Canadian athletes are our country's greatest ambassadors, working tirelessly to represent the very best of Canada on the world stage. To make it easier for them to train, compete and bring home the gold, the Government of Canada is making sure they have more support along the way.
Today, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), announced a $3-million annual increase to the Athlete Assistance Program, bringing the program's total yearly funding to $43 million.
The enhanced funds will provide greater support to more high-performance athletes, including those identified in sports newly added to the Los Angeles 2028 and French Alps 2030 Olympic and Paralympic Games programs. It will also increase support for para athletes, athletes with children, and guides for athletes with visual impairments. This will help ensure Canadian athletes can focus on training, pursuing excellence and proudly wearing the maple leaf.
Secretary of State van Koeverden made the announcement in Alberta, where he also announced a significant federal investment of up to $33.6 million through the Build Communities Strong Fund for key sport infrastructure projects including the Olympic Oval, the WinSport halfpipe and the Nakiska National Ski Cross Training Centre.
Together, these investments will help increase participation, put Canadians on podiums, and bring major sporting events to Canada, continuing to prove that we are the best sport-hosting country in the world.
This work is part of the Government of Canada's generational $1-billion investment to improve access to sport, continue hosting world-class events, upgrade stadiums, fields and community recreation facilities, and help athletes succeed from the playground to the podium.
