Official Media Release from the Canadian Olympic Committee:

TORONTO, July 21 /CNW/ – With the historic 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games now in the record books, Canada’s summer-sport athletes today gathered with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and Own the Podium (OTP) as they announced their performance goals and launched themselves on the road to the London 2012 Games.

The COC reaffirmed its goal for the Canadian Olympic Team to place among the top-12 nations in total medal count and the CPC set its goals for the Canadian Paralympic Team to post a top-8 finish in the gold-medal count.

“With the success of the 2010 Games, we’ve seen what a focused plan can deliver,” said COC Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General Jean R. Dupré. “Placing top-12 in London is an ambitious goal but striving to be your best is a core element of the Olympic Movement. It’s what our athletes, and Canadians, demand.

“Our vision is to make Canada a leading nation in both winter and summer sport, and it is through our partnerships with the National Sport Federations, OTP, the Government of Canada and our other partners that our athletes will step onto the podium”.

“Our athletes train very hard and have a relentless commitment to achieve medal performances. Athleticism, determination, world-class competitiveness, and winning results are the hallmarks of our Paralympians,” says Henry Storgaard, CPC Chief Executive Officer. “I am confident that by working closely with our partners, we will achieve our goal of being in the top-8 countries in gold medal count at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

In just over two years, London will welcome the world to the 2012 Olympic Games – their third time as host (1908, 1948). The Games take place from July 27 to August 12, with the Paralympic Games following shortly thereafter from August 29 to September 9.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Canada was one of just six nations that succeeded in winning more medals than it had at previous Games, finishing tied for 13th with 18 medals. The Canadian Olympic Team surpassed its top-16 performance goal and matched its third-best output ever with three gold, nine silver and six bronze medals.

The CPC will also look to build upon its recent success. The Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games saw Canada experience its greatest Winter Games, finishing third for gold-medal winning nations with 10 (19 medals overall).

As witnessed during the Vancouver 2010 Games, OTP was an integral component to the success of both the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams. The sport technical initiative provided unprecedented research and support that enabled the teams to collect record medal hauls, setting new standards in Canadian high performance sport.

“With Own the Podium leading the way, a new culture for winning was instilled in all Canadians during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” said John Furlong, Own the Podium Chair. “We now have a precious legacy to build upon in developing an even stronger high performance sport system in Canada. Own the Podium, and our partners, will continue to serve as the engine that will drive athlete performance on the road to London 2012.”

With the Government of Canada as its largest financial provider, OTP will continue to provide more than $30 million in annual funding to 23 of Canada’s summer sports in order to support their drive to the podium in 2012.

“Our Government’s commitment to Own the Podium has never been stronger,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport). “We are proud today to join our partners in wishing the best to our summer athletes as they prepare for London 2012. We saw the outstanding results of OTP at the recent Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and we are confident that our summer athletes will likewise benefit from OTP’s expertise as they prepare for London. We are behind you all the way!”

Ottawa’s commitment to OTP now totals $64 million annually, which includes a base level of funding of $22 million per year that will be directed to winter sport. For summer sport, the federal government’s support is set at $42 million a year, which will be invested in athletes with the potential to contribute to the medal targets at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The following is the official media release from LOCOG:

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has completed its latest set of milestones on time and within budget, as the ‘big build’ construction project moved into its final year. New aerial images of the Olympic Park have been released showing the good progress being made across the site.

In summer 2009, the ODA set out 10 milestones – ‘The Big Build: Structures’ – outlining how the main structures of the London 2012 venues and essential new infrastructure would take shape and be nearing completion by this summer.

The final milestone has now been completed, with water beginning to fill the new Lee Valley White Water Centre being built in Hertfordshire, meaning that all 10 milestones have been achieved on time.

A new set of milestones – ‘The Big Build: Completion’ – was unveiled today which covers the final stage of the construction project. The milestones outline how, by summer 2011, the structures of the main venues will be complete and ready to be handed over for testing, with all major new infrastructure finished and landscaping work well advanced across the Olympic Park.

Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) Chief Executive David Higgins said: ‘By setting out clear milestones right from the start of the project, we have offered a window into the delivery of this unprecedented construction project, allowing people to judge our progress for themselves.

‘We are in good shape for the home straight but the last leg of the race is often the hardest and we are not complacent about the many challenges still ahead.’
Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics, added: ‘It is thanks to the hard work and dedication of the ODA, and its workforce, that the project has hit all its milestones again this year. With the majority of the construction phase now complete we are in an excellent position for the staging and testing work to being next summer.’

The following is the official media release from LOCOG:

The 2012th seat has been fitted in the Olympic Stadium by IOC President Jacques Rogge.