Budget 2014 Increases Funding for Special Olympics Canada

Minister of State Gosal congratulates Special Olympics Canada on Government support

BRAMPTON, ON, Feb. 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Minister of State (Sport) Bal Gosal today held a press conference at the Cassie Campbell Community Centre to highlight Government of Canada funding for Special Olympics Canada. The press conference followed a basketball demonstration featuring Special Olympics athletes in which Minister of State Gosal participated.

On February 5, the Government of Canada announced that it would provide Special Olympics Canada with an ongoing additional $1 million in annual funding. This brings the organization's annual funding from Sport Canada to more than $2.8 million.

Budget 2014 proposes funding of $10.8 million over four years to support the efforts of Special Olympics Canada to increase the number of Canadian athletes with intellectual disabilities participating in sport through enhanced sport programs and competition opportunities.

Quick Facts

• Special Olympics Canada enriches the lives of Canadians with intellectual disabilities through sport by providing coaching, training, and competition opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities.
• More than 3,000 year-round Special Olympics programs benefit almost 37,000 athletes across Canada.
• Special Olympics Canada is supported by more than 17,000 volunteers, including 13,000 trained coaches.
• The 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games will be held July 8 to 12 in Vancouver, British Columbia. This is the first time in more than 20 years that the Games will be held in British Columbia.
• The 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games will feature 11 sports, making them the largest Canadian Games ever.

Quotes
"I was pleased to recently announce additional ongoing funding for Special Olympics Canada to help see that our Special Olympics athletes get the support they need to excel in their sport and achieve their dreams. I am very proud of proposed new funding in Budget 2014 to support Special Olympic Canada's continued efforts on behalf of Special Olympics athletes across the country."
—Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport)

"Special Olympics Canada is very pleased to be included in the 2014 federal budget. The proposed support of $10.8 million over 4 years, supplementing our current annual funding of $2.8 million, will allow Special Olympics Canada and the twelve provincial and territorial Chapters to extend our sport programs and competitions to even more Canadians with an intellectual disability. We are extremely grateful to the Government of Canada and thank them for their ongoing support and commitment to Special Olympics in Canada."
—Sharon Bollenbach, Chief Executive Officer, Special Olympics Canada.

"We thank the federal government for its proposed support of Special Olympics programs in the 2014 federal budget. This funding will allow us to provide even more opportunities for Bramptonians with an intellectual disability to become active in sport."
—Neil Myers, Coach, Special Olympics Brampton Panthers basketball team

Associated Links
Sport Canada
Special Olympics Canada
Budget 2014

SOURCE: Canadian Heritage

For further information:

Robert Lynch
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Bal Gosal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1122
[email protected]

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
[email protected]