The Hamilton Spectator

Olympic brand in Canada and world looks for a recovery in Rio de Janeiro

- DONNA SPENCER, LORI EWING AND JOSH CLIPPERTON

Canada’s athletes head into the Summer Games amid tumultuous times for the Olympic movement at home and abroad.

Questions over Rio de Janeiro’s ability to successful­ly stage sport’s biggest showcase, internatio­nal standoffs over doping and Canada’s own domestic scandal have laid a beating on the Olympic brand in the lead-up to the Aug. 5 opening ceremonies.

The drumbeats of doom about a host city often cease when the Olympic cauldron is lit and everyone gets swept up in the spectacle and competitio­n.

While the first South American city to host the Olympic Games has a lot of bad press to overcome, most Canadian athletes are more concerned about bringing home medals than the Zika virus or polluted water.

The Canadian Olympic Committee and Own The Podium say their goal is a top-12 ranking among countries in total medals won when the flame is extinguish­ed Aug. 21. It was the same objective four years ago in London but Canada fell short, finishing tied for 13th with 18 medals.

“Anything higher than 18 would be significan­t success,” OTP chief executive officer Anne Merklinger said.

Canada ranks in the world’s top five countries in winter sport. But expect Canada to remain firmly in the second tier of countries in Rio chasing the few medals left over by the top 10 nations.

Canada’s track and field team is projected to lead the medal charge.

A strong medal opportunit­y disappeare­d, however, when tennis star Milos Raonic dropped out due to health concerns, “including the uncertaint­y around the Zika virus.”

How the absence of Russian athletes suspended for doping will impact Canada’s medal count is a stillevolv­ing storyline. The latest count is almost 90 banned Russians, but appeals are likely.

But if the world’s track and field governing body continues to uphold the ban on the entire Russian track team, Merklinger says it won’t necessaril­y mean a medal bonanza for Canada’s sprinters, jumpers and throwers.

“The events where those particular athletes are very strong from Russia are not events where Canada has strong medal potential,” she explained.

The Canadian Olympic Committee, meanwhile, has spent the last six months trying to regain the confidence of its athletes and the public following the resignatio­n of president Marcel Aubut amid allegation­s of sexual harassment.

Aubut did not face charges and subsequent­ly apologized for his behaviour. His replacemen­t Tricia Smith, a former rower promoted from vice-president, inherited an organizati­on in turmoil.

The fallout continued when JeanLuc Brassard quit as Canada’s chef de mission in April.

Former Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett stepped in to reprise his role of last year’s Pan American Games in Toronto.

Whether the upheaval has impacted the COC’s ability to support its 313 athletes, plus 205 coaches and support staff, in Rio will be answered in the coming days.

Canada’s 2012 chef de mission Mark Tewksbury believes the COC has emerged from the crisis in time for Rio.

“They know what they’re doing and they’ll protect the team,” he said earlier this year.

Basketball player Shona Thorburn of Hamilton doesn’t anticipate gaps in COC support in the village or in competitio­n.

“We’re very well taken care of with the COC,” she said. “They really do try and put us in the best possible situation for us to be prepared and only have to concentrat­e on basketball.”

Raonic joined a number of highprofil­e internatio­nal athletes who opted out citing concerns about the mosquito-borne virus Zika. No other Canadian athlete has withdrawn at this point.

The Canadian team also seems undaunted about polluted water at competitio­n venues.

“I think I’m superhuman so even if there is bacteria in the water, I feel I can resist it,” joked open-water swimmer Richard Weinberger of Surrey, B.C. “All my focus is on the race and being part of an epic race and nothing is going to get in the way of that,” he added.

Canada hasn’t broken the 20medal barrier at a Summer Games since the 22 earned in 1996.

Data indicates Canada is trending stronger into Rio than it was into London in terms of medal potential.

Twenty-one athletes won a medal at the most recent world championsh­ip in their sport compared to 17 before London, according to OTP. Thirty-eight finished top five compared to 31 prior to 2012.

There is also a potential slingshot effect from last summer’s Pan Am Games, where the host Canadian team finished second to the United States with 219 medals.

 ?? CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO ?? Jean-Luc Brassard quit as Canada’s chef de mission in April. Former Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett, pictured, stepped in to fill the void.
CANADIAN PRESS FILE PHOTO Jean-Luc Brassard quit as Canada’s chef de mission in April. Former Olympic cyclist Curt Harnett, pictured, stepped in to fill the void.

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