Podium hopefuls

The upcoming Tokyo Games will provide a platform for Canadian athletes to shine. For many, their development path has not been a straight line from playground to podium. Learn about RBC Training Ground and Paralympian Search – two programs designed to support athlete development in Canada and help build the pipeline of future podium hopefuls.

Impact of COVID-19 on athlete retirement

In a survey of national team athletes led by Game Plan in 2020, 34% of respondents said the postponement of the Tokyo Games changed their retirement plan from sport. Some said they would have to retire earlier than planned, while others chose to push their retirement for another year.

Team Canada logistics for Tokyo

The master project plan for an event like the Summer Olympic or Paralympic Games is approximately 20,000 lines long. The postponement of the Tokyo Games has provided the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee the opportunity to review, evaluate, and refine their policies and practices. These enhancements will ultimately benefit Canadian athletes and their…

The Ripple Effect of the Pandemic: Supporting Athletes With a Holistic Approach

“Athlete career excellence” is a concept from sport psychology concerned with an athlete’s ability to sustain a healthy, successful, and long-lasting career in sport and life. It means the athlete is striving to achieve meaningful goals in sport and life while satisfying basic psychological needs and maintaining health and wellbeing (Stambulova, Ryba & Henriksen, 2020)….

Pandemic Silver Linings in Canadian Sport

This article is the second in a special series that explores how Canadian sport leaders are adapting and innovating to safeguard the wellbeing of athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and other Major Games during a global pandemic. Read the first article here. The challenges facing Canada’s top summer athletes have never…

“Necessity is the mother of invention”

Canadian athletes have embraced Plato’s contention that “necessity is the mother of invention” during the COVID-19 pandemic, being creative with their training plans and tapping into the physical and mental resources needed to stay at the top of their game. In the SIRCuit, athletes, team leaders, and top medical experts explore the challenges and silver…

Performing in a Pandemic: The Resilience and Leadership of Canadian Athletes

This article is the first in a special series that explores how Canadian sport leaders are adapting and innovating to safeguard the well-being of athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and other major games during a global pandemic. Read the second article here. Following the previously unthinkable decision by the International Olympic…

Hometown Heroes

Millions of people tune in to watch athletes from their own communities compete for Olympic and Paralympic medals. Research suggests youth perceive a special connection with elite athletes from their hometown because they share similar sport-related experiences, such as team or club affiliation, coaches, and facilities. This affiliation may support increased participation after major sport…

2020 Youth Winter Games

The Youth Olympic Games are an international Olympic sporting event aimed to encourage youth to adopt and represent the positive values of sport, such as respect for others, for themselves and for the environment. Approximately 1,880 athletes aged 15-18 will represent more than 80 countries in Lausanne, Switzerland from January 9-22, 2020.

1900 Paris Olympics

The 1900 Paris Olympic Games closed on October 28 – the second games of the modern era. The Games, held over five months as part of the World’s Fair, included 19 sports and a total of 95 events, and included women for the first time.