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VANCOUVER – The Province is committing $5 million to support B.C. youth and adults to participate and excel in sport, maintaining critical programs provided by a number of sport organizations across British Columbia, announced Healthy Living and Sport Minister Mary Polak.
“This investment will help to foster an even richer culture of sport in our province during this most exciting and inspirational year leading up to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said Polak. “Through the dedicated work of the B.C. Sport Alliance, which represents amateur to high-performance sport organizations in the province, these grants will continue a strong tradition of sport in B.C.”
A $4.3-million grant will flow directly to the 2010 Legacies Now Society to continue current levels of sport participation programs and programs that support high-performance athlete training. $700,000 in additional grants will be directed to the BC School Sports Association, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific and Sport BC.
“With this funding, programs around B.C. will be able to not only further develop inspirational, world-class athletes, but also provide continued access to sport for people of all ages,” said 2010 Legacies Now CEO Bruce Dewar. “Ongoing support from the Province makes it possible for us to facilitate a sport-rich environment in B.C. and to continue to encourage people young and old to participate in amateur sport.”
These grants will support programs such as SportFit and KidSport BC, and will provide broad support to the overarching Provincial Sport Organizations.
“We are seeing the Province’s support of Team BC paying off as athletes who have competed on the provincial teams are now excelling on the world stage,” said Canadian Sport Centre Pacific president Wendy Pattenden. “The successes we are going to see at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games will surely be a result of the enhanced investment in the system that supports athletes and coaches in B.C.”
The funds will also benefit athlete development programs, such as those that help Team BC athletes preparing for upcoming Canada and Western Canada Games, and will help offset travel expenses of young athletes when they compete at regional and provincial championships.
“With less than one year until the 2010 Winter Games, it is an essential time to promote physical activity and sport development in B.C.,” said Sport BC president and CEO Paul Varian. “This grant will allow Sport BC and our members, the 65 provincial sport organizations, to continue with important programs and provide children and adults the opportunity to develop healthy lifestyles through sport.”
The Province invests over $40 million annually in the amateur sport system in British Columbia to encourage participation in sport and develop world-class athletes who serve as an inspiration to others.
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Communications Director 250 952-2387 |
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