Federal aid on the way for Canada’s Olympians

Sports officials on the Island hailed the federal government’s announcement Friday of $72 million in COVID-19 relief funding.

“It sees sport as a critical part of what makes Canada what it is,” said Terry Dillon, CEO of Elk Lake-based Rowing Canada.

“And it is a realization of the important role sport will play in the recovery because it brings community together,” Dillon said in an interview.

Of the total announced, $34.5 million will go to national sport organizations and institutes.

The Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, part of the national system of training centres, has campuses in Victoria, Richmond and Whistler.

How the funds will be distributed was not announced.

Numerous national-team athletes live and train on Vancouver Island.

“A lot of our funding has been cut so this is huge to help fill that gap,” said Caroline Crossley of Victoria, a player on the Tokyo Olympics-qualified Canadian women’s rugby sevens team.

The provinces and territories will get $32.5 million and the Athlete Assistance Program of direct aid to competitors $5 million.

“We are sincerely grateful,” the Canadian Olympic Association said, in a statement. “National sport organizations are facing significant obstacles, including limited cash flows, layoffs and uncertainty.”

Dillon said Rowing Canada has lost revenue in the pandemic but is in a better financial situation than many other national sport organizations.

“It’s a huge amount of reassure we can get relief if under financial stress in an unusual situation such as this.”

There was, however, no money announced for pro leagues. The Canadian Football League has asked the federal government for up to $150 million in financial aid. The Canadian Premier League of soccer, which includes Islandbased Pacific FC, has asked the feds for $12 million to see it through the pandemic.

“What’s important to say is all the money being announced today is for amateur sports and our Olympic athletes, so there’s nothing for professional sports,” federal heritage minister Steven Guilbeault told Canadian Press.

“It’s too early to be able to say whether we will be in a position to support these [pro leagues].”