Good Luck to Team Canada at the Special Olympics!

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 20, 2015) - Andrew Saxton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (North Vancouver), on behalf of the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), wished the best of luck to our Canadian Special Olympics athletes at a ceremony in their honour before they depart for the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles. The Games are taking place from July 25 to August 2.

Mr. Saxton also took the opportunity to reiterate the Government of Canada's financial support of more than $5.6 million to Special Olympics Canada for the fiscal year 2015-16, provided through Sport Canada's Sport Support Program.

This funding benefits programs and services that have a direct impact on athletes' development and on Team Canada's preparation for the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Quick Facts

• Special Olympics Canada enriches the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability by enabling athletes of all ages and all abilities to have access to coaching and training, and to participate in sport competitions.
• Nearly 37,000 athletes across Canada benefit from more than 3,000 permanent programs with the help of 17,000 volunteers, including 13,000 trained coaches who support the activities of Special Olympics Canada.
• From July 25 to August 2, 2015, more than 7,000 athletes from 177 countries will gather in Los Angeles to participate in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The athletes will compete in 26 different sports.
• The 115 athletes of Team Canada will compete in 10 sports: athletics, basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball and swimming. They will be supported by 40 coaches and members of the mission staff.
• The $5.6 million in funding includes annual financial support from Sport Canada of more than $2.8 million, plus an additional $10.8 million over four years (from 2014 to 2018) to support Special Olympics Canada's efforts to increase the number of Canadian athletes with intellectual disabilities who participate in sport.
• The Government of Canada places great importance on the health and active lifestyle of Canadians. In its Economic Action Plan 2015, the government doubled the Children's Fitness Tax Credit to $1,000 to help parents offset the costs of registering their kids in organized fitness activities.

Quotes

"All our Canadian athletes demonstrate what the Year of Sport in Canada is really about by proving that sport improves lives, changes attitudes, strengthens communities and brings us all together. Good luck to our team, and know that Canada is very proud of you and will follow your achievements as you make your athletic dreams come true at the 2015 Games."

-The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

"Congratulations to all the athletes of Special Olympics Canada. You had the courage to begin, the determination to persevere and now you're off to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. You are an inspiration to Canadians all across the country. Good luck in Los Angeles. The whole country will be behind you!"

-Andrew Saxton, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament (North Vancouver)

"The federal government's commitment to provide funding on an ongoing basis is integral for Special Olympics Canada to deliver not only a strong National Team Program, but to provide grassroots sport programs and competitions to Canadians with an intellectual disability across 12 provincial/territorial chapters. We thank them for their support on behalf of our athletes, their families and our volunteer coaches, especially those getting ready to wear the maple leaf and represent Canada in Los Angeles."

-Sharon Bollenbach, CEO of Special Olympics Canada

Related Products

Economic Action Plan 2014 proposes additional funding of $10.8 million over four years for Special Olympics Canada

Associated Links

Special Olympics Canada

Los Angeles 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Sport Canada

Year of Sport in Canada

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