Sochi-bound Canadian skiers and snowboarders have one more reason to reach for Olympic and Paralympic podiums thanks to a $100,000 endowment offered by the Canadian Ski Council (CSC).
As part of its Making Winter Winners program, the Canadian Ski Council will be awarding $100,000 in funding to Canadian snow sports athletes who medal at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
The funds will be divided among the Olympic and Paralympic athletes who win Gold, Silver, or Bronze medals in sports designated as Canadian Snowsports Association (CSA) disciplines. These sports include alpine, cross country, and freestyle skiing, snowboarding, ski jumping, and nordic combined.
“The cost is great for athletes striving to achieve their Olympic and Paralympic dreams,” says Patrick Arkeveld, President and CEO of the Canadian Ski Council. “But the rewards are greater. These athletes work incredibly hard to reach this level of competition. They sacrifice a great deal—these funds are meant to help them along the way.”
Making Winter Winners is a fundraising program administered by the Canadian Ski Council to assist amateur skiers and snowboarders on the road competing at national and international levels. This year’s $100,000 Olympic endowment has been made possible, in part, through donations by participants in the CSC’s skier and snowboarder development programs.
“I am delighted to hear that the Canadian Ski Council is stepping up to help support our athletes. The costs of competing at this level can be high, and this funding will certainly help in their pursuit of excellence for Canada”, said Steve Podborski, Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team for the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi 2014.
The $100,000 endowment will be divided equally among all Olympic and Paralympic athletes who medal in Sochi in CSA-designated disciplines. Skiers and snowboarders who win more than one medal will qualify for a single portion of the fund. Payments will be made directly to the medalists.
The Canadian Ski Council (CSC) is a national, not for profit ski and snowboard association whose goal is to increase participation in skiing and snowboarding. For more information on the CSC and its Making Winter Winners program, please visit: www.skicanada.org
