Government of Canada Congratulates Provincial and Territorial Teams who Participated in the 2005 Canada Summer Games
OTTAWA, August 21, 2005 -- The Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister for Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), and Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale today recognized the performance of the athletes who took part in the 2005 Canada Summer Games in Regina from August 6 to 20."I congratulate Team Ontario on receiving the Canada Games Flag, and Team Manitoba on being awarded the Centennial Cup. Together, as teams, you have reached the pinnacle of success at these Games," said Minister Owen. "I also recognize the extraordinary efforts and achievements of all the athletes and teams at these Games. You have given Canadians two weeks of thrilling, inspiring competition, and have demonstrated how sport benefits our health and well being, our self-confidence and our perseverance."
"The athletes have brought the country together here in Regina to celebrate sporting and cultural excellence; the Canada Games truly reflect our country's diversity and its optimism for the future," said Minister Goodale.
The Canada Games Flag is awarded to the provincial or territorial team that collects the most points. Points are allocated based on the placing of each athlete or team in an event. The Centennial Cup is awarded to the provincial or territorial team that makes the greatest improvement from one Summer Games to the next. Each team's performance in a sport is compared to its performance in the last Games.
More than 4,500 athletes, coaches and officials participated in the Games, and more than 5,000 volunteers worked to deliver the Games.
"The success of these Games reflects the support of an entire community that has worked for several years to arrive at this moment. Congratulations to the Host Society, the Canada Games Council and the City of Regina for a remarkable achievement," said Minister Owen.
"I would like to thank the thousands of volunteers. The community will benefit from your experiences, talents and skills long after the Games are over, and you will take away memories that will last a lifetime. The success of the Canada Games belongs to you," added Minister Owen.
The Government of Canada is committed to making the Canadian sporting system a model for the world. In the February 2005 budget, the federal government increased funding dedicated to sport to $140 million -- an unprecedented high. This effort confirms the Government's desire to support Canadians' participation in sport as well as in the development of sporting excellence.
For more information on Sport Canada programming, please visit the Department of Canadian Heritage's Web site at: www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/sportcanada .
Information :
Renée Gillen
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport)
(613) 954-1110
Jean-Guy Beaupré
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-9314
[ Media Room ]
