Federal sports minister Bal Gosal was wearing a London 2012 lapel pin Saturday, which was only fitting since he was visiting the Island, which produced a remarkable 48 athletes for last year鈥檚 Summer Olympics.
Gosal got the full-spectrum tour of where many of sa国际传媒鈥檚 international athletes train and compete. His weekend itinerary took him to Rowing sa国际传媒鈥檚 training centre on Elk Lake, the Rugby sa国际传媒 Centre of Excellence in Langford, Sailing sa国际传媒鈥檚 offices and the 2013 world men鈥檚 curling championships at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
If he had the time, he could have popped into Saanich Commonwealth Place to see sa国际传媒鈥檚 best swimmers at the national trials for the 2013 world aquatics championships this summer in Barcelona.
But he got the point 鈥� Victoria is one of sa国际传媒鈥檚 key hubs for international sport.
鈥淲hen sa国际传媒 does well in sports internationally, it creates awareness and people want to join up. Which is good because it all starts at the ground level,鈥� said Gosal, pointing to the ripple effect in girls鈥� youth soccer created by the Canadian team鈥檚 Olympic bronze medal at London.
鈥淥ur rowing program here [at Elk Lake] is very strong and a force around the world and our national women鈥檚 rugby sevens team here [in Langford] is one of the top teams in the world.鈥�
Gosal was shown the area behind Westhills Stadium where the latest addition to the Rugby sa国际传媒 training centre 鈥� a 20,000 square-foot gym/ dormitory complex 鈥� will be built with sod turning expected within three months as rugby continues to build on the momentum of sevens becoming an Olympic event starting at Rio 2016.
鈥淭his is an amazing facility,鈥� said Gosal.
The minister noted sa国际传媒鈥檚 annual sports budget is currently $200 million, which includes Own the Podium.
鈥淭he federal government can鈥檛 run everything, but it can help,鈥� Gosal said.
鈥淚t comes down to the cities, communities and sports federations themselves.鈥�
Which in rugby鈥檚 case includes Langford Mayor Stew Young, a driving force behind the founding and now expansion of the Centre of Excellence, who helped show Gosal around the site Saturday.
