November 19, 2002 (Calgary, AB) -The Canadian Paralympic Committee announced Monday its official support for the development of the country's first Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence in order to finally permit Canadian athletes to compete on a level playing field with athletes from leading sport countries.

The planned Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence would give Canadian athletes, in nearly every summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic sport, equal access to the advanced resources and leading facilities now only available to more successful competitors in world-leading nations. The Centre will offer Canada's athletes both short- and long-term access to high-quality food, accommodation, coaching, bio-medical, psychological and research services in combination with advanced training facilities, access to education and state-of-the-art equipment.

“The Canadian Paralympic Committee strongly believes development of the first Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence will deliver what our athletes most need,” said Patrick Jarvis, president, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “Our board of directors has passed a resolution officially supporting this much needed project and we are calling on governments and the private sector to help create a level playing field for Canada's athletes.”

The nation's first Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence is proposed for the Southern Alberta region, where existing facilities from the 1988 Olympic Winter Games, in combination with other advanced regional sports complexes, make the plan the most cost-effective possible.

The first Centre will directly benefit more than 1,000 elite athletes. Developed with extensive input from athletes, coaches, and national sports organizations, the Centre is modeled on successful initiatives that have propelled athletes in Australia, the United States and Europe to international dominance and more Olympic and Paralympic medals.

“For Canadian athletes to continue to succeed and climb the ladder of success, we need the first Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence,” said gold medallist Earle Connor, who captured the world record for the men's 100 metre at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000. “Developing a culture of excellence like other leading countries already have in place is critical if we want to be the best.”

Connor, Olympic hockey gold medallist Cassie Campbell, and other athletes officially launched a National Call to Action in September when submitting a proposal for a one-time capital $87 million injection to the federal government to springboard development of the Centre. on-going funding to support making Canada a dominant sport country would be provided by CODA, the country's largest private funder of winter sport development.

“This national plan represents the most cost effective way to mount the podium more often, ” said John Mills, president, CODA. “Our athletes deserve to compete on an equal footing and CODA believes international sporting success will lead to a more healthy, active Canada with significant financial benefits for all Canadians, including reduced health care costs.”

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, charitable, private corporation that is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). CPC delivers programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada, including sending Canadian Teams to the Paralympic Games. The CPC empowers persons with physical disabilities, through sport. For more information, visit our website at: www.paralympic.ca.

CODA is Canada's leader in developing Olympic winter sport excellence, from the grassroots level to the country's Olympic best. Contributing more than $30 million in the next four years to national sport organizations and operational support for facilities shared by the public and our nation's top athletes, CODA is Canada's largest private funder of Olympic winter sport. On behalf of Canada's athletes, CODA has launched a National Call to Action to gain widespread public support to build Canada's first Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence. For more information on CODA or the Centre for Canadian Olympic Excellence, please visit us at www.coda.ab.ca on the Internet.