January 22, 2005 – To ensure Canada’s success at
the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver in 2010, all of
Canada’s winter sport partners joined together today to launch an
unprecedented new program, Own the Podium in 2010.

This bold, new program, launched simultaneously in Toronto, Montreal and
Whistler, sets the vision and strategy for Canada to be the number one
nation at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010. The goal for the
2010 Paralympic Games is for Canada to place in the top three countries.

“Own the Podium in 2010 is the program that will make Canada the top
sporting nation in the world in 2010,” said Chris Rudge, CEO of the
Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), one of the partners involved. “Canada
has many talented athletes and coaches who need a strong program and
additional support to reach the Olympic podium.”

For Canada to place first in the medal count at the 2010 Olympic Games, the Canadian Team would need to win approximately 35 medals in 2010, more than double the 17 medals Canada won in Salt Lake City in 2002.

“When we won the bid to host the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,
it was a win for all of Canada on the promise of great success,” said John
Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee (VANOC). “But for
Canadians real success in 2010 means equal part perfect organization and
execution and golden athletic performance by our athletes. Own the Podium
in 2010 brings science, ingenuity and home field advantage together with a
vision of unprecedented success. We all have a stake in this.”

Own the Podium in 2010 was developed with the input of international sport
experts, the program includes a plan to support and develop promising
athletes in order to increase the number of potential medallists in various sports at the 2010 Games. However, the program will only be successful with a new approach to sport delivery supported by the federal government and sport leaders in Canada as well as a $110-million total increase in funding for winter sports over the next five years.

“Our goal is to win more Olympic medals than ever before,” said Ken Read,
President of Alpine Canada. “I strongly believe that, with the proper
support, this program is the blueprint that will lead us through the next
five years and make the goals of Canadian athletes and coaches a reality.”

“I know that Canadian athletes possess the ability for greater podium
finishes,” said Clara Hughes, two-time Olympic medallist in speed skating
and cycling. “We simply need the coaching, medical and technical support
to be able to compete on a level playing field with other countries. This
program has great potential to take things in the right direction.”

“The Own the Podium program signifies a new era of collaboration in the
Sport Communityî says Canadian Paralympic Committee’s General Director
Brian MacPherson. “This spirit of cooperation will be the key to the
Program success.”

This program marks the first time Canada’s winter sport organizations have
come together with their sport partners to map out a comprehensive plan for podium success. The program, co-written by Cathy Priestner Allinger,
currently Senior Vice President, Sport at VANOC and sport technical expert
Todd Allinger, would give Canadian athletes the required financial and
technical support to help them be competitive at the highest level, and
make Canada number one on the podium in 2010.