November 25, 2004 – Today, the Calgary Olympic Development Association
(CODA) delivered an unexpected challenge to the sports of ski jumping and
nordic combined in Canada. CODA announced its long-time participation as a
major funder to both of the national sport programs will be rapidly phased
out.

The announcement, which was delivered Tuesday evening to the ski jumping
and nordic combined communities without any advance consultation, comes
three days before Canada’s high-performance ski jumping and nordic combined
athletes depart to compete in a series of international competitions abroad.

“The news our national programs received today is a complete shock for the
entire ski jumping and nordic combined communities,” said Brent Morrice,
chairman, Ski Jumping Canada. “Our program has been growing significantly
stronger over the last decade, thanks in part to the contributions CODA has
made. Our season is not in jeopardy; however, Canada needs to find a way to
fund these programs to ensure we are ready to compete and win on home snow
in 2010.”

The sports of ski jumping and Nordic combined in Canada have made major
strides forward in the last five years, and are the healthiest they have
been since the 1980’s. For the first time in more than a decade, Canada
fielded a ski jumping team of four athletes at the World Cup level in 2004,
and will do so again this season. Also, Jason Myslicki of Thunder Bay, Ont.
became the first Canadian since 1992 to ski full-time on the World Cup
Nordic Combined circuit last season.

“It is our goal to not only have Canadian athletes represent our sports at
future Olympic Winter Games for the first time since 1988, but to also win
a medal for our country,” said Morrice, who added there are more than 1,000
athletes introduced to the sports each summer, and the development program
now has more than 80 athletes that train year-round at Canada Olympic Park.

“These young athletes are rapidly climbing their way up the international
rankings, and are determined to achieve their Olympic dreams next winter in
Torino, but they cannot do it alone.”

Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined Ski Canada have developed a strategic plan
to prepare Canadian athletes to compete at the 2010 Games in Vancouver. As
the only high-performance ski jumping training facility in Canada, Canada
Olympic Park in Calgary is crucial to the success of this plan, and is a
fundamental part of the Calgary 88 legacy that CODA manages. Ski Jumping
and Nordic Combined Ski Canada’s executive team believes the $6.5 million
facility modernization at Canada Olympic Park outlined by CODA in its
announcement is not integral to this sports plan.

However, the need for private and public sponsorship and support has never
been greater, and the opportunities for potential sponsors are
considerable. Since 1998, the local ski jumping and nordic combined
programs have been provided through the National Training Centre for Ski
Jumping and Nordic Combined agreement – an agreement between Ski Jumping
Canada, Nordic Combined Ski Canada, Alberta Ski Jumping and Nordic
Combined, Altius Nordic Ski Club, Canadian Sports Centre Calgary and CODA.
CODA has given notice this agreement will be terminated on March 31, 2005.
The sport organizations will now refocus the operating management of the
programs, and work with CODA, in its role as the legacy facility manager,
to ensure the continued growth of these sports in Canada. Ski Jumping
Canada and Nordic Combined Ski Canada are the governing bodies for ski
jumping and nordic combined competitions in Canada.