Paying our athletes?

[capricorn]

It's well known that Canadians do not celebrate their own. We are modest to a fault. We want the medals, we want the winners, but some of us are not willing to give support to our fellow Canadians who spend their youth working their butt off to make us all proud to be Canucks. The Olympics are one of the funner, nicer things in life for us all to enjoy. What is so wrong with spending money on things that inspire us and give us a lift? In my mind, there is no reason why we cannot spare a few bucks to give our young people an incentive to represent us. The Government has spent a lot more money on things like statues. Our athletes are symbols too, a symbol of our talent as a nation.

I feel the same way. There are so few things that we can take pride in as a nation. If paying medal winners even slightly improves our standings and performance at the Olympics then this relatively small expenditure is well worth it.

How many of us didn't feel proud when we beat the Russian hockey team in 1972? The country literally stood to a standstill to watch it unfold. To this day we still talk about that victory and tell our kids about it. This is the kind of national pride that is good for a country's heart and soul.

Let's support this initiative.

[Wilber]

I feel the same way. There are so few things that we can take pride in as a nation. If paying medal winners even slightly improves our standings and performance at the Olympics then this relatively small expenditure is well worth it.

What, rewarding people because they are the best? How un Canadian can you get?

[Carinthia]

I feel the same way. There are so few things that we can take pride in as a nation. If paying medal winners even slightly improves our standings and performance at the Olympics then this relatively small expenditure is well worth it.

How many of us didn't feel proud when we beat the Russian hockey team in 1972? The country literally stood to a standstill to watch it unfold. To this day we still talk about that victory and tell our kids about it. This is the kind of national pride that is good for a country's heart and soul.

Let's support this initiative.

It's ironic that you should mention the Russian/Canadian hockey game. I had absolutley no interest in hockey until I got swept up watching the Canadian women's team win the gold a few years back. Then the men's team won too. Wow, that was amazing and due to these games, I am now an ardent hockey fan.

[mikedavid00]

Your vote isn't worth any more than someone's who doesn't.

And that is what is creating 99% of our problems both here and in the US.

[mikedavid00]

I am spending my own money...by the fact that I support the Government to spend my tax contributions in giving a mere token of it to our Canadian athletes for a job well done.

Really?

And where does your 'tax contribution' come from? Is it from Full time private sector work?

[Wilber]

And that is what is creating 99% of our problems both here and in the US.

Yet you have a real problem with rewarding someone who achieves something extraordinary on the world stage wearing your country's colours and under your flag. Interesting.

[mikedavid00]

Yet you have a real problem with rewarding someone who achieves something extraordinary on the world stage wearing your country's colours and under your flag. Interesting.

People represent our country all the time and don't get federal funding for it.

Yes I agree they should be paid, but private business and donations can fund this.

Hmm.. that's another great idea. The gov't would no longer be allowed to make donations of any kind. They can only spend money a service that services the public.

[Wilber]

Well said Wilber, Most Atheletes are sponsored by the corporate world, They are after all representing Canada and our flag why not invest in thier future. We as tax payers have invested in alot worse. how much of our tax dollars have just our politions wasted....this is not about just money but selling our nation, our pride, who we are as Canadians to the world. Or are we just a bunch of cheap bastards.

When it comes to promoting and rewarding excellence we are cheap bastards. Being the best at something in front of the world is so ostentatious and showy. Most un Canadian and something best left to Americans.

[Wilber]

People represent our country all the time and don't get federal funding for it.

Yes I agree they should be paid, but private business and donations can fund this.

So you want them to represent you but someone else should pay for it.

[mikedavid00]

So you want them to represent you but someone else should pay for it.

Yes. I also want my neighbour to go to work and have a job and have someone else pay for it too. There's nothing wrong with that.

The line we should not cross however, is funding people's speacial interest in life.

[Wilber]

Yes. I also want my neighbour to go to work and have a job and have someone else pay for it too. There's nothing wrong with that.

The line we should not cross however, is funding people's speacial interest in life.

You are only funding them if they win. That's the best part.

[Wilber]

DEL

Edited November 22, 2007 by Wilber

[mikedavid00]

You are only funding them if they win. That's the best part.

That's not entirely true i'm sure. I'm sure we are funding all competitors in some way shape or form.

[Wilber]

That's not entirely true i'm sure. I'm sure we are funding all competitors in some way shape or form.

Yes we are to some degree but this initiative is purely performance based. We support all kinds of things, some have personal value to me and some don't but they have value to others. If enough people don't like this idea, it probably won't go very far but if it gets results in Beijing and 2010, my guess is it will.

[mikedavid00]

Yes we are to some degree but this initiative is purely performance based. We support all kinds of things, some have personal value to me and some don't but they have value to others.

Yes and that is what is ruining our country.

[capricorn]

Speedo has announced it will pay Canadian Olympic swimming medal winners $50,000. for gold, $10,000. for silver and $5,000. for bronze.

http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/story....1e1&k=27716

Swimming is becoming lucrative for aspiring Olympians.

[jawapunk]

Speedo is paying that because they know Canadians suck at swimming. We don't win many medals in that sport.

[capricorn]

Nevertheless the incentive is there for talented swimmers. Being a capricorn I'm the eternal optimist.