Why did Canada boycott the Bejing Olympics?

They'll more than make up for it in two years. I don't think too many people in Canada care about the summer Olympics.

 

Au contraire.....the success Canadians have had in the past in swimming, track, cycling, gymnastics, rowing and other sports have attarcted plenty of interest here.

 

I think CBC numbers show that even with no medals to date, Canadians are interested. It's not gold medal hockey numbers but there's lots of interest.

I should also say that CBC has done a fabulous job on covering the games. I hope NBC is taking notes.

 

Mr 96,

Actually, up in Toronto, a motion in Parliament to officially recognize summer as a season was defeated on a party line vote two years ago. It had once been part of Prime Minister Jean Crouton's campaign platform.

YD&OHS, etc

 

I think Jean Crouton stole that from the Rhino Party platform.

 

Mr Huggy,

Look, accepting Canada is part of North America was tough enough for a lot of Canadians -- maybe most -- to accept. Understandably they didn't want the summer-as-a-season bill pushed down their throats. That's not regional either ... it's true of Canadians in both area codes.

YD&OHS, etc

 

In terms of govt. funding, if I'm not mistaken, the US athletes don't get much from the US govt. They get most of their dough from sponsors. Or am I way off?

So I guess the question is why there isn't more sponsorship money going to Canadian athletes. Is it because US companies would be seen as traitors sponsoring a Canadian? Couldn't Tim's Doughnuts sponsor a gymnast?

 

Very true, Mr. Friend O. I could see us 905ers wanting it but you 416 types voting it down because that would cause all of us from the 'burbs to flock downtown and take up all the patio spots at the kind of trendy joints you like to frequent. (Is the Rondun still around?)

 

Canada's still doing pennance for jamming Celine Dion on us.

 

Home Depot Canada sponsors Canadian athletes.

However, Canada doesn't have the corporate sponsorship base to fund an Olympic programme.

This is where the government kicks in, like they've done in Australia who already has 20 medals.

 

Tims is a huge sponsor of sports like soccer and hockey at the grass roots level. Companies like Hudson's Bay and RONA also support Olympic athletes along with probably a dozen others I don't know about.

I think the athletes look to the government for assistance with facilities and coaching, both of which are lacking here, as well as money to allow them to tran full time.

 

In addition to the lack of sponsors and govt funding we also do not have a comparable level of college sports that can look after athletes.

Canadian university sports, even hockey, are not a huge deal here. Compare this to the resources poured into NCAA track and field and swimming for example and you have more high performance training opportunities.