Getting biggest bang for our Olympic buck

Re Be proud — then do better, Editorial Aug. 18 If Canada wants to win more medals at the next Summer Olympics all we need to do is fund Swimming Canada. If we send four male swimmers and four female swimmers to Tokyo, they could sweep the individual and relay events and collectively win 78 medals.

Or how about Diving Canada? Multiple divers, like swimmers, can compete in multiple events that require very similar technical skills. Three male divers and three female divers could win 16 medals.

If we add Athletics Canada to this, we can fund eight short-distance runners to the tune of 14 potential medals.

Funding just three organizations, and 22 elite athletes, gives us a potential haul of 108 medals of various colours. This tactic is much better than funding 60 soccer and basketball players — who between them can only win four medals.

China, Russia and Japan do not medal in team sports because they know that such medals count as one. Unless we want to focus solely on individual sports, we should recognize the true value of an Olympic team sport medal. Eighteen bronze medals went home to Canada’s soccer team. Count that as 18 medals.

Fortunately, Own the Podium recognizes the value of team sports — the social and nation-building effects of supporting a team (not to mention the participation benefits) and funds Soccer Canada, Canada Basketball, Rugby Canada and all the team sport organizations — without regard for how medals are counted at the Olympic Games.

Even the Harper government recognized the value of team sports and added additional funding for team sports in the annual budget. Kevin Lawrie, Toronto If Canada wants to get serious about supporting high-end athletes they should put their money where it really matters. Almost every Olympic athlete starts their athletic career at the community level — rowing, swimming and gymnastic clubs, etc. — and yet community clubs struggle to raise money to keep going. If you want to develop competitive athletes start at the beginning. Jane McCall, Delta, B.C.