Own the Podium

For my American friends, "Own the Podium" is the push in Canada to...brace yourself...WIN MEDALS AT THE OLYMPICS.

It's true! Seriously! Canadian athletes want to win medals. The Canadian Olympic infrastructure supports them in that by doing things like using science and technology to improve performance and paying athletes' living expenses. Isn't that SHOCKING?

And this part is true, too: the program is controversial in Canada.

Granted, part of the controversy is whether it makes Canadians too much like, um, Americans. Not that anyone characterizes it in that way. Too polite and all that. But trust me, that's what they're thinking.

After the first week of the Olympics, Canada is doing just fine in the medal count, not that that's the best yard/metre-stick for measuring the value of a country in the world or anything. Are Canadian athletes winning more medals than U.S. athletes? NO. Is every athlete with a shot at the podium getting there? NO. Does this mean the program is unsuccessful? NO. It just means that it takes awhile for investments to pay off.

As to whether "Own the Podium" is somehow un-Canadian--honestly, people. That attitude leaves me nearly speechless (and yet I will keep typing). In the U.S., wanting to achieve excellence in athletics is about as controversial as getting out of bed in the morning. And if you think South Korea and China don't have comparable programs for their athletes, you're delusional.

If you want to talk about un-Canadian, let's consider Canada's "leadership"--or lack thereof--in addressing climate change and protecting the rights of its own citizens around the world. Let's discuss the war in Afghanistan, and the possibility of abuse of detainees, as we celebrate Canada's response to the earthquake in Haiti. Let's consider other ways we could have spent the "Own the Podium" funding. All of those are legitimate questions, so let's debate.

Oh, wait. We can't. The Harper government prorogued Parliament, suspending the democratic process. None of those discussions can take place.

Now that is un-Canadian.