Commonwealth Games Canada
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) (French: Jeux du Commonwealth Canada) (JCU) is the Commonwealth Games Association of Canada responsible for Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada.[1]
Commonwealth Games Canada Programs
CGC provides sport opportunities for Canada’s athletes, coaches, and sport leaders, as well as children across the Commonwealth – so they can be the best they can be, and in turn give their best to their community. CGC does this currently through 3 unique and worthy programs:
SportWORKS - “Making a Difference and Becoming Different”
CGC sends Canadian sport leaders into developing Commonwealth countries on up to 1-year placements designing and delivering sustainable sport programs and building sport system capacity. SportWORKS placements are a life-changing experience for everyone. Since the program’s inception in 2001 CGC has sent over 130 Canadian SportWORKS Officers to 30 developing countries assisting national and local sport groups, making a sustainable impact on over 300 programs (sport development, sport for development, governance marketing and communications.) In 2014 10 young Canadian sport leaders and 10 senior Canadian sport leaders were placed in Africa and Caribbean working on 71 diverse sport projects and programs such as, Commonwealth Games Schools Program (Northern Ireland), Athlete Ambassador Program (St. Vincent & Grenadines), Intro to Gymnastics (Zambia), etc.
Beyond the Podium - “Changing Lives Through Sport”
CGC works with local sport organizations in developing Commonwealth countries using the transformative power of sport to enhance youths’ physical literacy, personal health and social skills.
Since its inception in 1993 BTP has impacted 300+ sport for development programs, reaching over 1.9 million youth.
In 2013 BTP reached 32,000+ young cricket players in the Caribbean with HIV/AIDS prevention messages through Bowling Out Aids; a uniquely and exclusive Commonwealth Games Canada initiative. Its dual goals are to improve the game of cricket and improve young (9 – 19 yrs) cricket players’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviors around HIV/AIDS.
Team Canada - “Where Canada’s Sport Stars Are Born” / “Pathway to Olympic Glory’
Every four years, CGC sends Canada's best athletes to the Commonwealth Games. In between Games, CGC works closely with over 20 national sport partners providing support to Canadian summer sport athletes and coaches to compete at the highest levels and reach for their dreams.
Canada consistently ranks among the top 3 countries in medal count and in records broken. Equally important to Canada is the consistently outstanding reputation of our athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers as ambassadors of fair play.
At the 2012 Olympic Games in sports contested at both the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, all 9 medals won were by Canadian Commonwealth athletes.
2014 Commonwealth Games 82 medals, 3rd place – Mission Accomplished. The Road to Rio runs through Glasgow and Toronto - the future looks bright for Canada at the 2015 Pan Am Games and 2016 Olympic Games.
Commonwealth Youth Games have become an important stepping stone along the high performance continuum, providing some of Canada’s most promising summer sport athletes and coaches with their first international multi-sport Games experience. The next Commonwealth Youth Games are in Samoa in September, 2015.
Canada and the Commonwealth Games
Canada has a special relationship with the Commonwealth Games. Each time Canada has hosted the Commonwealth Games a “games changer” was introduced permanently elevating the global Commonwealth sport movement. Not only did Canada host the very first Commonwealth Games in Hamilton in 1930 but those games introduced the athletes Village, awards podium and volunteerism. The 1954 Commonwealth Games in Vancouver included the first ever live televised sporting event in North America, broadcasting the iconic Miracle Mile event. The title “Commonwealth Games” was introduced at the 1978 Games in Edmonton and the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria introduced para-sports.
Commonwealth Games Canada Corporate
CGC is the franchise holder for Commonwealth sport in Canada. As such it is the member association of the Commonwealth Games Federation and is responsible for the growth and development of the Commonwealth sport movement in Canada. CGC is registered non-profit, private charity, governed by an elected Board of Directors and supported by staff.
o Vision: Commonwealth sport is a key component of the Canadian sport system and significantly contributes to the development of sport and positive social development in Commonwealth countries.
o Mission: To strengthen sport within Canada and the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games, hosting Commonwealth sport events and using sport for development.
o Values
Excellence – We believe in striving to be our best - through innovation, commitment, and focus - in support of Canadian athletes, coaches and officers
Development – We believe in supporting the people and institutions of the Commonwealth as they pursue of personal growth and organizational capacity, respectively, through sport.
Community – We believe in creating a sense of belonging and pride by working collaboratively toward a common vision, celebrating accomplishments, and inspiring shared experiences.
o Brand Promise – “Where Sporting Excellence and Community Meet” Unique value proposition - CGC is the only Canadian sport organization that delivers both high performance sport and sport for development programs in Canada and abroad. CGC leverages the transformative powers of sport to inspire Canadians to make a difference in communities across Canada and Commonwealth.
Stay Informed about Commonwealth Sport in Canada and Abroad
CGC has multiple digital platforms keeping Canadians informed about the latest news, issues and trends in Commonwealth sport in Canada and abroad.
• CGC website; www.commonwealthgames.ca / subscribe to “Friends of Canadian Commonwealth Sport”
• CGC Facebook page; “jeux du commonwealth games Canada”
• CGC Twitter page; @cgc_jcc, #cgc_jcc
• CGC Alumni Group via ; www.linkedin.com
Commonwealth Games Foundation of Canada
CGFC responsible fostering, financing, assisting, supporting and promoting charitable and educational organizations, institutions, projects connected or associated with Commonwealth sport in Canada. CGFC was incorporated in 1982 as a registered non-profit, private charity, governed by a Board of Directors and supported by staff. Since its inception CGFC has raised more than $20 million through various fundraising projects, programs and events.
References
- ↑ "About CGC". commonwealthgames.ca Commonwealth Games Canada. Retrieved 12 August 2011.