Victoria-based Triathlon sa国际传媒, in an attempt to rebuild its program in the post-Simon Whitfield era, has announced a fundraising program named Fuel the Drive, in which fans of the sport are encouraged to help out.
Triathlon sa国际传媒 is attempting to ride the momentum it feels was created by the country鈥檚 success at the recent 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
鈥淭here is no argument the performances of the nation鈥檚 best Olympic and Paralympic athletes on the biggest sport stage in the world this winter captured the hearts and minds of all Canadians,鈥� said Triathlon sa国际传媒 CEO Kim Van Bruggen of Victoria, in a statement.
鈥淭here simply is no other event in the world that has the ability to connect all communities together.鈥�
Triathlon supporters can donate a minimum $50 at triathloncanada.com/donate to help build sa国际传媒鈥檚 team to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. A tax receipt will be issued. The goal is to raise $400,000.
The 94 Forward organization, which oversees the $20-million legacy fund from the Victoria Commonwealth Games, will match dollar-for-dollar the first $200,000 raised.
Van Bruggen said the program is more than just financial but that Triathlon sa国际传媒 wants supporters to be 鈥渆motionally invested in the athletes鈥� pursuit of excellence on the road to Tokyo, and beyond.鈥�
A big part of sa国际传媒鈥檚 national sport funding system is tied to medal performance. sa国际传媒 has not had a medal in triathlon in the Summer Olympics since Sydney 2000 men鈥檚 champion Whitfield鈥檚 silver medal at Beijing in 2008.
Triathlon sa国际传媒, however, sees a real chance for a medal in the mixed team relay, which will be a new Olympic event at Tokyo 2020. Also, Stefan Daniel won the men鈥檚 silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
鈥淭his unique campaign will not only provide all Canadians with the opportunity to be directly connected to our team鈥檚 journey to 2020, but will also ensure our program remains competitive with the best in the world,鈥� said Daniel.
鈥淭his support will enable us to focus solely on training and competition without having financial distractions.鈥�
First up on the road to Tokyo 2020 are the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which open April 4 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Included on the Commonwealth Games team are Matt Sharpe of Victoria, emerging 17-year-old star Desirae Ridenour of Cowichan Bay, women鈥檚 2017 world top-five Joanna Brown of Carp, Ont., 2016 Olympian Tyler Mislawchuk of Oak Bluff, Man., Dominika Jamnicky of Guelph, Ont., and Alexis Lepage of Gatineau, Que. Four of those six triathletes train in Victoria at the national performance centre.
Sharpe, a graduate of Claremont Secondary and originally from Campbell River, described the Commonwealth Games as: 鈥淎 dress rehearsal for the Olympics . . . an opportunity for our group to go through a multi-sport Games process and see how it responds to that setting.鈥�
