TORONTO (October 7, 2024) – Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) was please to officially welcome home affiliated Olympic and Paralympic athletes from the Paris 2024 Games at a recent celebration. CSIO’s Paris 2024 Homecoming Celebration gave athletes a chance to celebrate their journey and accomplishments at the Games with many of their support team, including CSIO sport science and sport medicine practitioners and administrators who provided support along their high performance pathway to the Games.
At the event, CSIO was pleased to welcome the federal Minister for Sport and Physical Activity, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, and Ontario’s Minister for Sport, the Honourable Neil Lumsden provide remarks and congratulate the athletes. Other speakers included Karen O’Neill, CEO of Canadian Paralympic Committee; three-time Olympic Medallist Katie Vincent (Canoe Sprint), CSIO’s Chair, Ian Gordon; and CEO, Debbie Low. The event was emceed by broadcasting legend, Scott Russell.
The event was an opportunity to unveil the 22 new banners hanging from the rafters of the CSIO Strength & Conditioning Gym. Each banner representing a CSIO affiliated Olympic or Paralympic medallist and their Paris 2024 accomplishment.
The banners feature many of the standout performances of the Games, including Summer McIntosh’s four medals in the pool, Katie Vincent’s gold and bronze triumphs in Canoe, Austin Smeenk’s double medal performance in Para Athletics, and Canada’s first medal in Para Canoe from Brianna Hennessy.
While banners from past Games had to come down to make way for the Paris 2024 banners, CSIO is proud to unveil the creation of a Gold Medal Pathway of banners commemorating the gold medal winning performances from CSIO affiliated athletes at Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018, Tokyo 2020, and Beijing 2022 Games. All banners past and present can now also be viewed virtually through CSIO’s Website and by QR code in the CSIO performance spaces.
The banners not only commemorate great achievements, they also help inspire the current and next generation of Canadian Olympians and Paralympians training at CSIO on their own Olympic or Paralympic journey – another way CSIO aspires to elevate people and their performance.
Guests also had the opportunity to see the addition of the corresponding 22 plaques on CSIO’s Wall of Honour, along with Andre De Grasse’s special achievement plaque as Canada’s Most Decorated Olympian. His plaque takes its place alongside fellow history-maker Penny Oleksiak’s plaque honouring her matching accomplishment.
CSIO would like to thank its partners at the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee, along with partnered National Sport Organizations for kindly supplying the images for the banners.
“It is incredibly inspiring to see the podium accomplishments of CSIO affiliated athletes featured in our training space used by so many high performance athletes, both those already reaching their Olympic and Paralympic potential, and those on their journey as the next generation. The banners are a daily reminder for all CSIO staff and athletes that their hard work, resilience, and commitment are important on the pathway to success. The banners also represent the power of sport and Team Canada’s ability to inspire and unite Canadians,” shared Debbie Low CEO, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario.
“These Team Canada athletes gave their everything in Paris, showcasing the true Canadian spirit of perseverance and heart to the world. The banners now hanging in the CSIO Strength and Conditioning Gym are a tribute to the teamwork and commitment behind every Olympic and Paralympic journey. Athletes, congratulations—your accomplishments have left a lasting mark on sport in Canada and inspire the next generation to dream big,” said The Honourable Carla Qualtrough Minister of Sport and Physical Activity.
“Ontario is proud to be home to so many world-class athletes, and it was an honour and privilege to watch them compete for our country at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. With the help of incredible high-performance training facilities like CSIO, we know that our province will continue to produce exceptional athletes who will inspire future generations and achieve greatness on the national and international stage,” shared The Honourable Neil Lumsden Minister of Sport.
About Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) is a non-profit organization committed to elevating people and performances in the pursuit of building champions. CSIO strives to provide best-in-class sport science, sport medicine, and pathway support to high performance athletes, coaches, and National and Provincial Sport Organizations. CSIO is part of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, working in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, and the Coaching Association of Canada. CSIO is further supported by Ontario’s Ministry of Sport and Sport Canada. www.csiontario.ca
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Media Contact:
Laura Albright
Senior Advisor, Communications & Events
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario
Tel: 647-395-7536
Email: lalbright@csiontario.ca