Targets for Athlete Performance and the Sport System

• The view that targets should be ambitious but achievable goals that stretch the system’s
capacity
• The view that the targets should be consistent with how the public as well as the
domestic and international sport communities would define success
• The view that the targets should be very clear and specific
Recommendations for Canadian Targets for Athlete Performance
Targets that represent ambitious, but achievable targets for Canada are required. The Work
Group recommends targets that call for Canada to double the number of medals won at the
Olympic Games over the next 7 (Winter from Salt Lake City 2002 to Vancouver 2010) to 9
(Summer from Sydney 2000 to 2012) years. Because of the ongoing review of the Paralympic
program and the anticipated changes to the number of events, ranking rather than actual medal
count, should be used to establish goals for Paralympic sports.
The Work Group recommends that the following specific long-term targets be accepted as
the Canadian Targets for athlete performance at future Olympic and Paralympic Games:
• For Winter Olympic sports, Canada should consistently place in the top 3 nations
in the medal count, with the goal being to finish 1 st in the 2010 Vancouver/Whistler
Winter Olympic Games
• For Summer Olympic Sports, Canada should place in the top 8 nations in the
medal count by 2012
• For Winter Paralympic sports, Canada should place in the top 3 nations in the
gold medal count by 2010
• For Summer Paralympic sports, Canada should place in the top 3 nations in the
gold medal count by 2012
Performances in culturally significant sports or marquee events are also desirable. Team
sport accounts for most of the broad based participation by Canadians. While the Canadian public
celebrates athlete success at the international level, regardless of the event or sport, there is merit in
investing in sports that are of cultural significance where potential can be demonstrated. For
example, there was the notion in Salt Lake City 2002 that the gold medal by both hockey teams
would satisfy the success expectations of the majority of Canadians and the media. A medal in
women’s soccer in Athens, for example, would have a huge impact on many Canadians given that
soccer is now the most popular sport in Canada, measured by registration. The rationale for
investment in specific culturally significant sports is that achieving them would set Canada apart as
being internationally competitive in sports and events that are important to Canadians, and is
consistent with how Canadians gauge success at the Olympic Games.
An analysis of the performances required to achieve these National Goals is presented in the
section below.
Athlete Performance and Sport System Targets, Evaluation, and Investment Page 20