Whistler Sliding Centre designated as a Sliding Sports National Training Centre
Whistler, BC - Whistler Sport Legacies, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and the Canadian Luge Association announced today that the Whistler Sliding Centre is now officially considered a national training centre for sliding sports in Canada.
The Canadian Luge Association, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton and Whistler Sport Legacies will combine resources to elevate the sport of sliding in Canada. The three parties have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which signified a commitment to comply with national training centre guidelines with the goal of increasing Canadian sliding sport’s capacity and competitiveness on the world stage. The two National governing bodies for sliding sports in Canada and Whistler Sport Legacies will share strategic long term goals for sliding, collaborate on financially sustainable strategic plans, and develop joint marketing initiatives all with the goal of promoting sliding sports in Canada.
“Developing a competitive culture of excellence where sliding sport partners at all levels can come together will be key to Canada’s future success,” said Don Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton. “The sliding sports recognize the importance of contributing to the Olympic and Paralympic medal count, and we believe our athletes deserve the opportunity to have access to all of the much-needed resources at home to compete and win against the world’s best. Having access to a national training centre on the west coast is critical to putting Canada’s sliding sports on the international podium, and in turn, growing the sport well into the future.”
“The 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the Whistler Sliding Centre, have played a critical role in developing Canada’s luge athletes from participants into medal contenders at all levels on the international stage,” said Tim Farstad, Executive Director, Canadian Luge Association. “Looking at our program, it is clear that having access to facilities and programs delivers more medal winners for Canada. This unique partnership will help fully prepare the Nation’s top luge athletes in their pursuit of excellence, not to mention, develop a new crop of young Canadian stars ready to take a shot at Olympic history.”
“Our three organizations working together will certainly help elevate sliding sports in Canada,” said Roger Soane, President and CEO of Whistler Sport Legacies, “we are pleased to make our commitment to sliding sports official.”
“Our Canadian sliding teams have had some great results since the facility was built,” said Tracy Seitz, Director of the Whistler Sliding Centre, “we believe the Whistler Sliding Centre is contributing towards the increase in the number of athletes in sliding sports, and their podium performances.”
The newly formed national training centre committee will be comprised of equal membership from all three organizations and will be responsible for exploring opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the national training centre in a financially sustainable manner.
About Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton
Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Adidas, Eurotech – Viking Engineering, BMW Canada, The Globe and Mail, Conceptum Sport Logistics, Therapeutica – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, and SAIT Polytechnic. Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops Olympic and world champions. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.
About Canadian Luge Association
The Canadian Luge Association is a not-for-profit organization responsible for governing the sport of luge across the country. With the financial backing of from the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, the Canadian Luge Association safely recruits and develops the nation’s current and future high-performance luge athletes with the goal of regularly climbing onto the international podium. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.
About the Whistler Sliding Centre
The Whistler Sliding Centre (WSC) is operated by Whistler Sport Legacies, a non-profit organization funded by the Games Operating Trust and responsible for Whistler Olympic Park, the Whistler Sliding Centre, and the Whistler Athletes’ Centre. The WSC was the site of the bobsleigh, skeleton, and luge competitions for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. For more information, visit whistlerslidingcentre.com.