Paralympic athletes | The tip of the iceberg

What if, for an Olympic medal, we offered performance bonuses to male athletes and none to female athletes?

“Everyone would very quickly cry foul, with good reason,” replies Samuel Ouellette, administrative director of the Pôle sports at HEC Montréal.

It is therefore relevant to ask why we still accept a disparity on the basis of disability today. We would like to believe that all athletes are equal, but obviously, some are more so than others.

It is the very overhaul of the Paralympic funding program that is at stake.

As the former executive director of the Gold Medal Club, a non-profit organization aimed at providing scholarships and funding to up-and-coming athletes, Mr. Ouellette can see what is wrong with funding. athletes in Canada.

Unfortunately, the Canadian Paralympic Foundation does not have the same financial means as the Olympic Foundation. The latter still uses revenues from the Calgary Olympics in 1988 to reward Olympic medalists.

The Paralympic Foundation is not fed by any public funds and must therefore rely on private donors, such as companies. The problem lies in this state of affairs.

There would probably be other ways to advance the cause of Paralympic medalists. Sport Canada, which directs its funding primarily to Own the Podium, which is responsible for fundraising strategies for organizations and athletes, could probably find a way to balance things out, according to Ouellette.

The director of the Sports Department is convinced that the Paralympic Foundation is concerned about the situation. She is, however, helpless. Enough to make you wonder how much longer the status quo will last.

Especially since the lack of performance bonuses is only the tip of the iceberg. There are many issues surrounding the athlete funding system in Canada.

The Black Eye of Canadian Sport

Although Canada is a world power and developing some of the best athletes in the world, it is not perfect. For just one Paralympic medalist, many had to give up their dream. Not for lack of passion, but because of lack of financial resources.

Nicolas-Guy Turbide, swimmer and double Paralympic medalist, was interested in the question. In addition to being one of the best in the world in his discipline, the 24-year-old athlete is also studying administration and financial planning. He specializes in personal finance with the aim, in particular, of helping the athletes of tomorrow.

Turbide knows tobacco. He has always been immersed in the world of amateur and elite sport. It is even proof that it is possible to realize your dreams and to live from them. He is, however, aware that he is part of a privileged group. However, this did not happen by chance.

This injustice, of course, is the lack of funding for amateur sport, on the one hand, and for disabled athletes, on the other. So he found a way to succeed without having to depend on sponsors.

Funding is the key to success. From the first time an athlete learns a new sport to the Paralympic podium. Turbide gives the example of the founders, given that they will be in action soon. The funds needed to pay for a season amount to several tens of thousands of dollars. Their remuneration is not even enough to pay for their season, so it becomes extremely difficult to pay rent, nutrition and treatment. “We have financial support, but when you leave, your sports season already costs more than your income. Yes, it’s a dream, but it’s hard to justify it if it doesn’t come with financial rewards. »

In search of recognition

A Paralympic medal award would not only ease the financial burden on athletes. According to Samuel Ouellette, these would also finally be recognized at their fair value.

“For me, the theme of recognition is central,” says Mr. Ouellette.

Naturally, the recognition of an athlete depends a lot on the medal, especially in funding strategies, he explains. In contrast, a fourth position is often underestimated. Even if finishing in fourth position in an event that brings together the best athletes in the world is an extraordinary performance. In his opinion, we must also think of these athletes when the time comes to redirect funding. Failure to do so would also be a form of injustice discrediting athletes who are still among the elite.

According to Nicolas-Guy Turbide, the funding system is crucial in the development of Paralympic athletes. He explains that sometimes this is what will make an athlete decide to stop or continue. They have a dream to live, but they also have to earn a living.

Especially since funding does not happen by chance. Without visibility, there are no sponsors. Without sponsors, there is no recognition. Without recognition, there is no funding. Without funding, there is no podium.

“It’s still getting better and better, it’s improving and we can see it,” agrees the swimmer.

Samuel Ouellette is also optimistic that the issue of performance bonuses for Paralympic medalists will be settled for the Paris Games in 2024. The subject is a hot one. The pot is about to overflow.

He believes that today’s society is ripe to offer an equal strategy between Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Mr. Ouellette explains his idea on the basis that sport is “a social fact that is specific to an era”. That is to say that today, the issues of equity, diversity and inclusion are much more topical. We hear a lot more about it and so it’s probably this social vehicle and this context that will lead us to recognize the work and the efforts made by the Paralympic medalists.

An Olympian and a Paralympic athlete are equally invested in an extraordinary performance that results in a medal. The effort is the same, but the recognition and the rewards are in no way equivalent, even today.

The collective before individuals

All actors involved in the Paralympic movement are aware. Everyone knows that Paralympic medalists are left behind by not receiving any performance bonuses. The CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), Karen O’Neill, is also aware of this.

“It’s unacceptable,” she replied when questioned by The Press on this subject.

At the head of the CPC since 2013, Mr.^me O’Neill has advanced the Paralympic cause and grown the organization, yes. However, the continual and prolonged absence of scholarships for Paralympic medalists remains the committee’s Achilles’ heel.

The problem remains and M^me O’Neill confirms it: the Foundation and the Paralympic Committee do not have deep enough pockets. The lack of donations is glaring.

The CEO explains that there has, fortunately, been a significant evolution within the organization in terms of funds available over the past decade. The presentation of the Vancouver Games in 2010 really helped to replenish the coffers. Interest in the organization and its mission has grown and it has certainly paid off. Donors, partners and the government have responded to CPC requests, but this is still insufficient.

The fact remains that rewarding athletes for their medals would not have bankrupted the Paralympic Foundation of Canada. Neither does the committee. Both organizations had to make choices. This is why they decided to invest in the system and in the collective, rather than in individual bonuses. M^me O’Neill believes it made more sense to directly assist with coaching and infrastructure development.

“We are getting to a point where we still need to invest in the system, but we would really like to recognize and reward athletes who have managed to get on the podium with funds,” said Ms.^me O’Neill. The fact is that Canadian Paralympic jurisdictions have still favored the system over the past three Paralympic cycles.

The new priority

A few days before the Paralympic Games in Beijing and on the eve of a new cycle, the CPC would have clearly defined performance bonuses as one of the major issues to be settled.

M^me O’Neill even confirmed that a meeting had been organized on this subject: “Over the past few months, on the CPC and Foundation Board of Directors, everyone has established the problem as a priority that will be part of of our next cycle. The funds available must be increased. Everyone supports that. »

This kind of meeting to set the table for the next cycles usually takes place after the Games, but the current situation required it. Everyone understands it, but nothing has changed yet. More funds need to be raised, but more help from donors, corporations and government will be needed.

Moreover, the government has played a rather discreet role in this file since the athletes and the various organizations began to lift the veil on this injustice, as the various speakers have pointed out.

Nevertheless, M.^me O’Neill is willing to acknowledge that government support has been exemplary over the past two years. With the pandemic, the postponement of the Tokyo Games and the condensed schedule, “the government has been exceptional”.

Since the re-election of Justin Trudeau’s government last fall, Pascale St-Onge, MP for Brome-Missisquoi, has been at the helm of Canada’s Department of Sports. The CEO of the CPC maintains that she was able to discuss with the Minister to explain to her the mission and the work carried out by the Committee. Since then, there have been no additional meetings or follow-ups. M^me O’Neill would like to be able to come back to the subject of the financing of Paralympic athletes after the Beijing Games to take stock and establish strategies. However, for the moment, the CPC “has not spoken about this [le financement des médailles] directly with the minister,” said Ms.^me O’Neill.

M^me St-Onge also declined interview requests from The Press to discuss the subject and to express their point of view on the matter.

The next challenge for the Canadian Paralympic Committee will be to find and maintain the necessary funds for at least the next two or three Paralympic cycles.

The debate goes beyond the financing of the medals. M^me O’Neill hopes to improve communication, fundraising and support for athletes and their environment.

The CPC CEO would not comment on whether performance bonuses would be in effect for the Paris Games in 2024, but she is optimistic for the future.

Never mind, the athletes who will be on the podium in Beijing soon will receive nothing, unlike the Olympic athletes, for lack of funding.