Federal Government Swing For The Nets With $1.2 Million Boost To Badminton Events

The investment into the sport of badminton is the largest ever reported

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Canadians from the playground to the podium and helping the sport community get Canadians active, inspire young people and bring us together in the spirit of healthy competition.

Today, the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, announced $1,232,590 in funding for Badminton Canada for 2022–23, with an additional $22,000 devoted to safety in sport.

The investment will provide the organization with the financial means to conduct its daily operations, promote the sport of badminton among all Canadians, and support high-performance athletes competing at the national and international levels. The funding includes $75,000 to host the 2022 Yonex Canada Open in Calgary from September 27 to October 2, 2022.

The investment in safety in sport is part of the government’s ongoing work with sport organizations to ensure a safe sport environment for athletes across Canada. The annual funding will help national sport organizations meet important governance, accountability and safe sport standards, such as:

• adhering to the services of the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner (OSIC) as their independent third-party mechanism to address allegations of maltreatment;
• offering mandatory training to athletes, coaches and support staff to prevent and address maltreatment; and
• integrating the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) into their organizational policies and procedures.

“As the Minister of Sport, I am proud to support our national sport associations in their efforts to better their athletes and infrastructure and make their sport safer. Our funding of $1.2 million gives Badminton Canada tools to offer safer training environments for all, and better means to support high-performing athletes and conduct daily operations. All Canadians benefit when our athletes have more opportunities to compete at a world-class level and showcase their skills on the world stage. The 2022 Yonex Canada Open will do just that and inspire young people to strive for greatness and stay active.” Said, Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport

“Badminton Canada greatly appreciates the support of the Government of Canada in helping to advance badminton in Canada and improve safe sport practices across all sports. The funding received has assisted the organization in educating athletes, coaches, officials, and many other stakeholders; updating policies; and ensuring an independent third party is available to assist whenever an individual has a question or concern. The ability for any person to feel safe when playing a sport is crucial to their enjoyment, and we appreciate the support of the Government of Canada in helping maintain that safe environment.” Said, Ken Poole, President, Badminton Canada

As the single largest investor in Canada’s sport system, the Government of Canada is proud of the investments it makes to support Canadian athletes, the national and multisport organizations that support them, and the hosting of international sport events.

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