Penny Oleksiak and Andre De Grasse shared part of $77,000 purse in inaugural year
OTTAWA, June 21, 2017 /CNW/ - Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is pleased to announce Year 2 of the Canada Commonwealth Cup, a season long race for points with cash prizes awarded annually to Canada's top 8 Commonwealth athletes and/or teams and their coaches.
Of the 146 men and 158 women who participated in the program in 2016, swimmer Penny Oleksiak and sprinter Andre De Grasse topped the field and in the process, earned a share of the $77,000 prize purse.
Once again in 2017, Canada Commonwealth Cup participants will be able to accumulate points at major international events such as World Championships and World Cups.
"We are proud of the 354 athletes who were part of the first edition of the Canada Commonwealth Cup," said Richard Powers, President of Commonwealth Games Canada. "With the 2018 Gold Coast Games just around the corner, it is important to provide our athletes with funds to support their training and competition expenses."
All Canadian national senior athletes and teams in good standing with their respective National Sport Federations, from sports included in the upcoming Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018, are eligible for the Canada Commonwealth Cup.
"The Canada Commonwealth Cup is a great initiative to provide support to Canada's athletes," said Penny Joyce, Chief Operating Officer of Diving Plongeon Canada. "The Commonwealth Games are an important step on the pathway to Olympic success, and we applaud CGC's support. Many of our National Team divers were in the top 8 standings in 2016, and I know they will be in contention once again this year. Good luck to them and all athletes taking part!"
As the founder and four-time host of the Commonwealth Games, Canada is considered one of the leading Commonwealth sport nations, and CGC is proud to continue in this role with the establishment of the Canada Commonwealth Cup, a prize purse for Canada's top Commonwealth athletes. Based on Commonwealth sport values the Canada Commonwealth Cup is inclusive of both men and women, able and para-athletes, individual and team sports, and features a prize purse shared equally between men and women. Additional information about the Canada Commonwealth Cup can be found at www.canadacommonwealthcup.ca.
ABOUT COMMONWEALTH GAMES CANADA
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. CGC builds a better Commonwealth through sport. Visit www.commonwealthgames.ca for information.
Our thanks to CNW Group for sponsoring this announcement.
SOURCE Commonwealth Games Association of Canada
For further information: Commonwealth Games Canada, Brian MacPherson, Chief Executive Officer, 613.244.6868 x226, brian@commonwealthgames.ca
Related Links
http://www.commonwealthgames.ca
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