Own The Podium chief says athletes' cries for change have been heardCanada has posted some of its biggest medal hauls in Olympic Games over the past dozen years, but how the country has gone about owning the podium is now under the microscope.

Social Sharing

Canadian funding program being criticized for creating culture of pressure, tension

Donna Spencer · The Canadian Press(Stuart Gradon/Calgary Herald via CP)

$150M in funding

Twenty-nine medals in 2018 was a Winter Olympics record for Canada and ranked the country third. Twenty-four last year in Tokyo for 11th was the most by Canada at a non-boycotted Summer Olympics.

Through consultation with the national sport organizations, who oversee athletes' competitive lives, OTP makes funding recommendations directing about $70 million of Sport Canada money to NSOs for athletes with medal potential, while also providing technical advice to the NSOs.

All sports receive core funding out of a pot of $150 million.

• U of T scholars ask Sport Minister for review of Own The Podium

OTP's funding recommendations, which require federal ministerial approval, is additional, targeted funding to assist athletes onto the world, Olympic and Paralympic podiums.

"Before the targeted excellence funding came into play, the approach was funding was spread a mile wide and an inch deep," OTP CEO Anne Merklinger said. "Our results on the world stage showed the impact of that.

"With the introduction of the targeted excellence funding, Canada has achieved a level of excellence on the global stage that is quite positive."

WATCH | Anne Merklinger on importance of Own The Podium:

Anne Merklinger on the importance of Own The Podium

2 years agoDuration 1:23Anne Merklinger, CEO of Own The Podium, looks back at the 2010 Olympics.More Olympic Sports coverage