Getting Our Athletes Rio-Ready
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A NEWSLETTER FOR OUR DONORS | ISSUE 11 | SUMMER 2016 HBC BURSARY MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE + CELEBRATING OLYMPIC DAY + GETTING OUR ATHLETES RIO-READY The Rio Olympic Games offi cial website’s countdown clock marks the days, hours, minutes and even the seconds until the start of the Summer Olympics on August 5th. The countdown has been building excitement for fans leading up to Rio. During this time, the athletes, coaches and support teams have been acutely aware of the limited time remaining to prepare. Athletes have spent years preparing for these Games. Their coaches have carefully planned schedules to ensure the athletes are ready, so that they “peak” during the Games. These last weeks before the Games are critical to stay healthy and focused. This issue provides a glimpse of the preparations for Rio. Winston Chow/COC What makes the Olympics so special are the athletes. For some this will be their fi rst Olympics, others are hoping to improve on past Games. We are featuring athletes whose names you may not FROM OUR know, YET! As well, we will introduce you to one of our donors, and some corporate partners who play a vital role in providing EXECUTIVE our athletes with the opportunity to be top performers. DIRECTOR I hope that you enjoy watching and following the Rio Summer Games. As you watch the athletes, know that your generous donation has helped get them there. And when our athletes stand atop the podium singing O Canada, I hope that you will join in, because that medal also belongs to you too! Leanne Nicolle Executive Director P.S. If you will be in Rio, please let me know by sending an email to [email protected] Strive is an e-magazine Executive Director: We would love to hear Canadian Olympic The Canadian Olympic published by the Leanne Nicolle from you! Please send your Foundation Foundation is a Canadian Olympic Design: comments to: 21 St. Clair Avenue East, registered charity. Foundation. Keith Jones/voc [email protected] Suite 900 Charitable Toronto, ON M4T 1L9 olympicfoundation.ca Registration Number 416-324-4282 or 817729346RR0001 Canadian Olympic 888-377-7073 Foundation 02 OLYMPIAN PROFILE Scott Matthew Tupper Sarmento In a country dominated by ice hockey, the young money back into the program – funds that are often men on the Canada’s fi eld hockey team are taking the used for athletes’ living expenses are used to pay our road less traveled. Fortunately for Scott Tupper and annual levy.” Matthew Sarmento – that road has led to the Rio 2016 The athletes rely on their parents (aff ectionately Olympic Games. referred to as ‘The Bank of Mom and Dad’) for support After a brief hiatus from London 2012, the Red and apply to any and all available grants. Matthew was Caribou (the self-proclaimed nickname for the squad) recently named as one of the 50 recipients for the HBC are busy preparing for their return to the Games and Athlete Bursary Program. are ready to change the hearts and minds of ice “The funds I receive from the HBC Foundation make hockey-crazed Canadians. such a diff erence in my training, and life in general. I’ve “Like a lot of Canadian kids, I grew up playing ice spoken to some of the other athletes that received the hockey,” says Scott Tupper – a veteran midfi elder grant and we couldn’t be more grateful.” Left with over 220 caps to his name. “It was certainly Scott Tupper Canada opens up Olympic play on August 6 against no. 3 competes at the my number-one passion growing up.” Toronto 2015 Pan Germany. As the lowest ranked team in the tournament Am Games. Likewise for talented, young forward Matthew Sarmento. (besides host Brazil), it’ll be an uphill battle for the Red Above “I dreamed of playing in the NHL. I thought fi eld hockey Caribou. But they’re happy to play spoiler; it’s a role Matthew Sarmento was for guys who couldn’t skate.” they’re used to. at the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia in Both Scott and Matthew were introduced to fi eld “We just plan to go out to each match and take points Spring 2016. Michael P. Hal hockey through friends and teachers, and though from every team. Anything can happen if we make it to Shaheed Devji/Field Hockey Canada reluctant to join at fi rst, they quickly developed a the elimination round – and we’re known for punching passion for the sport. That passion is key because above our weight,” says Matt. a fi eld hockey career in this country is far less While some may argue that their international ranking glamorous than its on-ice cousin. takes some of the pressure off , the enormity and honour Canada’s men have qualifi ed for seven out of the last of competing at the Games isn’t lost on either of these thirteen Olympic Games. In an amateur sport funding young men or their teammates. system where success begets success, the Red Caribou have found themselves in a challenging fi nancial “We’ve worked so hard to get here. We have a great story. position over the years. Scott has been with the program We play a fast-paced game and just like our ice hockey team, since 2005 (he’s one of only two current team members we’re die-hard Canadians,” says Matt. with prior Olympic experience) and has lived through a variety of funding models for the secondary sport. “Amateur high-performance sport is a vehicle for “Over the past couple of years, individual players have bringing people together, it can unite a nation,” says invested over $10,000 each into programs. It’s been Scott. “We’re everyday people, doing pretty special tough for a lot of the guys. Most of us put our carding things. I can’t wait to represent Canada in Rio.” 03 Canadian Olympic Committee Celebrates Olympic Day Top For athletes to reach the Olympic Games, their development starts right here at home, and for many of those Canadian Olympians celebrate with local athletes the desire to strive for the Olympic Games began with meeting or hearing from an Olympian. With this in kids in Richmond, B.C. mind the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) joined forces with over 40 partners to celebrate Olympic Day with over 40,000 participants and 65 Canadian Olympians. Olympic Day is an international celebration of the Olympic values and ideals and encourages people of all ages to get moving and participate in sport and physical activity. Since 1948 countries across the world have celebrated Olympic Day as a means to connect the public with Olympians, sport and the Olympic Movement. This year the COC worked with partners across Canada to host over 130 events over the months of May, June and July. Additionally the Canadian Olympic School Program released Olympic Day resources to help educators, parents and community leaders in getting children and youth active while celebrating the Olympic Movement. What you’ll fi nd: 1 2 3 Be sure to check Olympic Day Toolkit – Provides an Torch Relay Kit– Outlines the Olympic Trivia – Developed in out the Canadian overview of Olympic Day, history history of the Olympic Torch conjunction with our Sport team, Olympic School of the modern Olympic Games as Relay and Olympic Medals and this resource provides quick Program to fi nd fun well as provides tips and ideas on challenges participants to develop and fun facts about the modern unique Olympic how to organize and host your own their own Torch and Medals. Olympic Games, Canada’s history themed resources Olympic Day Celebrations. at the Games and introduces to share with your participants to the sports featured community. in the Olympic Games program. Resources are available at olympic.ca/education. 04 Behind The Scenes AT THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY Lauren Adams | Development for the Canadian Olympic Foundation In February 2016, I applied for a From Athens we then drove fi ve The next day was our lecture on Above IOA Class of 2016. position to become an ambassador hours north to the IOA, which gender equality. A representative for Canada at the International is settled in the most beautiful from Zimbabwe gave an incredible Below Tanya, Rosie and Olympic Academy’s (IOA) 56th mountainside. The next morning presentation on women’s rights and Lauren at IOA. Session for Young Participants. our academic courses began as issues. The crowd in the lecture hall George Skouloudis Only a few weeks later I learned scholars from around the world was attentive and everyone was that I was one of three young arrived to discuss Olympism. The asking intelligent questions. It felt people chosen to represent our lectures spanned a wide variety of like the attitudes were changing incredible country. Joining me on topics – from sport for development – and the next day on the pitch this adventure of a lifetime were to gender equality in sport to proved it. Everybody shared the international sport consultant Tanya environmental sustainability. ball. Everyone high-fi ved. It was Ng Yuen and Olympic rhythmic The lectures were an opportunity completely diff erent. gymnast, Rosie Cossar. The theme to engage in diverse discussion was how to promote environmental with young leaders from around protection and education in sport – the world. Each country is doing an issue I’m very passionate about. something a little bit diff erent and it was eye-opening to learn The sightseeing began upon our about their unique attitudes and arrival in Athens. We were fortunate challenges. enough to be the only visitors at the Panathenaic (Olympic) Stadium Not all of our learning took place which hosted the fi rst modern in class room and one of these Games in 1896 and was used as an challenges came to light on the fi eld Olympic venue in 2004.