Canadian athletes own the podium and our hearts

(Ottawa, Ontario – March 2, 2010) – First, allow us to congratulate the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee for a job well done. After facing adversity you demonstrated leadership and a willingness to listen to the people. Second, allow us to congratulate Own the Podium, its corporate partners, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee who provided the critical financial support to our Canadian athletes.

But, most importantly of all, allow us to congratulate the women and men who compete for Team Canada. Each and every one of you demonstrated podium performances. You united a country not only because of your athletic prowess, but because of who you are as people. You are role models for future generations because you displayed the values that Canadians have told us they want in their sport. You showed respect and compassion for your competitors. You demonstrated excellence in every sport and at every opportunity. And, you showed us that sport is about having fun. You have given back to your nation by inspiring all of us to be the best we can be. To face whatever life throws at us and dig deeper to achieve excellence.

On behalf of the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, allow us to thank you for making these the cleanest games ever. We have always said that, for the most part, our Canadian athletes compete clean and want to compete on a level playing field. At this time, we have every reason to believe that our Canadian athletes competed clean and, that they were afforded the opportunity to compete on a level playing field at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics because of a state of the art anti-doping program that was put in place more than three years ago.

Canada had lofty goals for these Olympics. We wanted them to be the cleanest Games ever and we wanted our athletes to Own the Podium. We can all be proud of the united effort that achieved these goals. And we can celebrate together the wonderful men and women who have provided us with a reason to believe in the power of sport, True Sport.

Paul Melia

President and CEO

On behalf of all of the staff at the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport

The CCES is an independent, national, non-profit organization. Our mission, to foster ethical sport for all Canadians, is carried out through research, promotion, education, detection and deterrence, as well as through programs and partnerships with other organizations.

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For further information, please contact:
Rosemary Pitfield, Director of Communications,
(613) 521-3340 x3236
(613) 355-0889 rpitfield@cces.ca  

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