Province Increases Investment in Athletes for 2011 Canada Games

NOTE: A list of sports that received funding from the 2011 Canada Games Results Program follows this news release.

Nova Scotia is investing an additional $400,000 in winter sports to help the province's athletes increase their medal count and personal bests at the 2011 Canada Games in Halifax.

The funding is over four years through the new 2011 Canada Games Results Program.

"With the nation's attention fixed squarely on Nova Scotia as the host province, we want to be sure our athletes have the best training and equipment available to succeed in 2011," said Barry Barnet, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection. "We'd like to see Nova Scotia shine at these Games, not only through our role as host, but also because our athletes are among the best in the country."

The first round of grants has been distributed to 13 provincial sport organizations. For example, Judo Nova Scotia received funding to hire a full-time coach. He will help judo athletes improve on their silver-medal standing at the 2007 Canada Games in Whitehorse.

"There's no question this program is going to benefit our athletes," says Tim Lohnes, president of Judo Nova Scotia. "Just having a full-time coach position, words can’t even describe how it's going to benefit Judo Nova Scotia. I expect nothing but good things for the next few years and good results for 2011."

Until March 2009, the program will provide grants of up to $10,000 for coaching, training officials and equipment. The next two years leading to the 2011 Games will focus on training athletes.

Information on the program and funding applications forms are on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/physicalactivity/grants.asp .

Following is a list of 13 provincial sports that received the first round of grants from the 2011 Canada Games Results Program:

• alpine skiing -- $3,700 to bring a Level 4 Canadian Ski Coaches Federation certified coach to Nova Scotia and host a timing workshop, and measures program and Fédération Internationale de Ski rules update for officials

• artistic gymnastics -- $3,245 to host a men's and women's judges clinic and send officials to national judges course

• badminton -- $5,900 to purchase training equipment

• biathlon -- $10,000 to purchase competition riffles

• boxing -- $10,000 to hire a full-time provincial coach

• curling -- $5,813.84 to purchase a two-way wireless microphone and radio system

• figure skating -- $8,640 to upgrade officials certification and coach training

• freestyle skiing -- $2,250 to send officials to training competition

• judo -- $13,390 to hire a full-time provincial coach, purchase training equipment and send officials for certification upgrade

• shooting -- $11,635 to purchase competition air pistols and riffles, and training equipment

• snowboarding -- $15,520 to purchase trampoline and balance boards, send officials to certification event, and build dry land start gate

• squash -- $7,518 to purchase to ball machines

• synchronized swimming -- $1,675 to bring youth national team coach to Nova Scotia to host a seminar