Something happens to a country during the Olympics.
Strangers cheer together. Kids watch the screen and think “that could be me.” For two weeks, we remember what sport actually does. It pulls us together, gives us something to believe in, and shows us what’s possible when someone commits everything to a dream.
And then the closing ceremony ends. The flags come down. And most people don’t think about what it took to get those athletes there.
In Canada, the answer is: a lot… and not enough.
COC CEO David Shoemaker recently said it plainly. Germany, Italy, and France outspend Canada on sport by 10 times. Core federal funding for our national sport organizations hasn’t increased in 20 years. The athletes we’re cheering for are competing at the highest level with one hand tied behind their back.
That gap gets filled by communities, clubs, volunteers, and donors who believe the pathway matters. Not just for medals, but for what sport builds in people.
Discipline. Resilience. Identity. A sense of belonging.
I’ve seen it firsthand. As an athlete who needed that support to reach two Olympic Games, and now as Executive Director of Alpine Ontario, working to keep those pathways open for the next generation.
The Alpine Fund exists because of that gap. Every dollar goes directly toward coaching, athlete development, and making sure a kid with a big dream in Ontario has a real shot at it.
If the last two weeks reminded you why sport matters, here’s a way to act on that feeling.
👉 Donate: https://alpineontario.ca/donate
The flame goes out. The work doesn’t stop.
Pat Biggs
AOA Executive Director