An Assyrian Plays a Big Role in Canada's Third Best Olympics Ever
By: Ashur Sada. August. 24, 2008
Canadians should be thankful for what this Assyrian has helped Canada accomplish
at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Meet
Helena
Guergis, an Assyrian woman in charge of Canada's Secretary of State for
sports. She just assumed her post within the last 12 months, and is one of
the main reasons why Canada just finished the Olympic games in Beijing as their
third best ever.
Said Chris Rudge, COC chief executive officer and secretary general: “The
Harper government came through in a big way for us, especially Secretary of
State (Sport) Helena Guergis who showed great leadership in bringing the needs
of summer sport to the House of Commons.” This is in references to the new
funding formula that Canadian athletes will start to receive, starting from this
very Beijing 2008 summer Olympics. As a result, this has translated in Canada's
third best performance at all Olympics (non-boycotted), ever!
According to the Canadian Olympic Committee, the new funding, which has become a
reality under the leadership of the honorable Helena Guergis, will provide: $8
million in 2008-09, $16 million in 2009-10 and, most importantly, $24 million
each year after that – in perpetuity – for the RTE program. In the end, the
program could receive far more than the $150 million over five years for which
the COC was advocating.
At the start of the Olympics, and for one whole week, Canada received zero
medals. Canadians, including myself, grew very tired and frustrated at this weak
and pathetic Canadian display at the Olympics. In fact, at first, I was going to
write the very same essay, but with a negative theme about Helena Guergis'
partial role in such a lackluster display. It was very embarrassing to see
countries such as Uzbekistan, Togo, Tunisia and others with medals, and nothing
for us to show. Now that the Olympics are over, Canada has 18 medals, including
3 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze, putting it in the 13th position of countries
with most medals. In fact, at the start of the Olympics,
CBC had an interview with Ms. Guergis,
and she was quiet confident that Canadian athletes would deliver. However, I was
very skeptical myself. But boy was she right or what!
Looking ahead to the winter Olympics in 2010, which will be hosted by Vancouver
of all places, Canada has a new initiative in place: "Own the Podium" The aim of
this initiative is to put Canada on the top of the medal standings. With the
games being played in our own backyard, and given the realistic and serious
demands of this program, the honorable Helena Guergis will be even harder at
work to make Canadians proud. And Assyrians too!
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