Two former Olds athletes have received money from the province to cover previously-incurred expenses under the Alberta Sport Connection (ASC) Podium Alberta program.
They are water skier Ryan Dodd and Danielle Lappage, who was a member of the female wrestling team during last summer's Rio Olympics. Unfortunately, Lappage was unable to compete due to a hamstring tear suffered near the end of a warm-up before her first match.
It's not a big whack of cash.
Lappage and Dodd received $6,000 each, the maximum allowed under the program, for a 12-month period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016, because they're senior-level athletes, ASC sport consultant Steven Patrick says.
The program divvied up a total of $1 million to 254 athletes in 40 sports from 31 Alberta communities.
The money goes to athletes competing at the highest levels of national and international competition who live and train in Alberta, or who temporarily train in other locations due to specific training environments.
In addition to access to coaching, sport science practitioners, and training opportunities, the funding allows athletes to pursue their athletic dreams while fulfilling educational goals.
Patrick says the money paid out by the province is one-third of the amount each athlete receives from the federal government through Sport Canada.
"All we know is that during that one year, they incurred some expenses and we'd like to help out. As a province we understand that competing basically full-time for your nation is not an inexpensive endeavour," he says.
"All we know is that during that one year, they incurred some expenses and we'd like to help out. As a province we understand that competing basically full-time for your nation is not an inexpensive endeavour." STEVEN PATRICKSPORT CONSULTANT ALBERTA SPORT CONNECTION
