The partnership will see the COC, the Canadian Olympic Foundation (COF) and the CPC provide a cash injection of CAD$3million (£1.7 million/$2.5 million/€2.1 million) into the CSIN over the next two years, with a view to improving the performance of the country's elite-level athletes and disabled athletes.

Another aim is to strengthen the country's sporting system through a shared vision as all the bodies will come together to form the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network.

The CSIN currently consists of seven satellite organisations with each location offering a number of services, including training equipment, nutritional and therapeutic support, access to funding and other resources.

The new funding will be used to help continue to deliver world-class daily training environments across a multitude of sports through further developments in sports science, medicine, research and innovation.

New staff will also be hired and the partnership will use some of the money to purchase the latest cutting edge equipment and to add to current methods of physical training and performance services.

"In order to compete with the best in the world, Canada's athletes must continue to be adequately supported and provided the right environment to train and prepare for international competition," COC President Marcel Aubut said.

"This exciting partnership and new funding will go a long way in ensuring world-class facilities and cutting edge equipment is available to Olympic, Paralympic and national team athletes across our country."

The deal shows the value of the CSIN, who have a large hand in preparing athletes and coaches for numerous major events.

Two-time Olympic bobsleigh champion Kaillie Humphries is an athlete who is set to benefit from the new funding agreement ©COC



"The Canadian Sport Institutes offer world-leading high-performance environments for athletic and coaching excellence and we know this new investment will further enhance Canada's podium potential," CPC chief executive Karen O'Neill added.

"We're looking forward to working with all partners towards advancing opportunities and awareness for Canada's top athletes and coaches as they prepare to compete at the highest level."

London 2012 weightlifting bronze medallist Christine Girard welcomed the development. 

"This is tremendous news for high-preforming amateur athletes across Canada," she said.

"Before an athlete can win a medal, before they can qualify for international competition, before all of that, they have to log thousands of training hours.

"Being able to train with the best athletes in the country at the best facilities will give our national teams a distinct advantage for future competitions."

The announcement marks a big year for Canada as a sporting power as Toronto is the host for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games, which is due to begin on July 10.

They will also find out whether Edmonton has been awarded the 2022 Commonwealth Games when the vote takes place on September 2 in Auckland.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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