Evidence of meeting #3 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was games.
A video is available from Parliament.
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
We have a modest list. We have a worldwide reputation as far as preparation for Olympic Games goes, and we are even improving a lot. These will be the most complex games coming up, and we are absolutely prepared to meet the challenge.
I will ask Caroline to add a few things. She is leading all the preparations—detail, detail, detail, quality, quality, quality, check, check, check—and she is doing that 20 hours a day right now.
Caroline Assalian Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
Thank you.
With respect to what you can do, what the public can do, what Canadians across all communities can do, I think it's surprising to hear this, but every single athlete feels the support of Canadians. They feel the support when Canadians are cheering or sending them messages or supporting them. I think we just need to continue to do that. As our president said, we have 215 athletes who are going to be part of the Sochi team. They come from 215 communities across our country from coast to coast to coast.
When our athletes are competing at home or at events, show them how much we take pride in their achievement and how much we are behind them. Showing them support comes with a financial package, but it's also the human one on one. I think that's something we as the Canadian Olympic Committee can do. Literally, we are responsible for 550 people for every minute of every day for 21 days. We are going through rehearsals and what-if scenarios. What if plan A doesn't work? Do we have a plan B? Do we have a plan C? Every single element is what we're doing right now. We're going through our rehearsals.
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
As you know, Mr. Dion, there is a very special connection between the team and Canadians, a very strong connection. That is probably the best thing they need to feel as far as support goes when we are doing that detailed preparation. That's why we already made the announcement in August about the short track, and we have done the announcement for each of them. It's an initiative of our communications department. There are 17 more announcements about teams leaving for Sochi that will be made between now and January.
This is why we believe it will elevate the connection between the team and Canadians, and this is probably the best element of our preparation that you can imagine.
Liberal
Stéphane Dion Liberal Saint-Laurent—Cartierville, QC
Thank you very much.
Mr. Aubut, I completely agree with you that the objective is to win. At that level of competition, participating is nice, but winning is even better.
However, any issues related to human rights—such as sexual orientation issues—could seriously upset the athletes and the Canadian public on location. That's exactly what Mr. Garrison's questions were about. So we have to have maximum guarantees both in terms of human rights and in terms of performance. That is the first issue.
Here is the second issue. We are Canadians, and we know what that means. No issues with regard to official languages should arise, as that could really spoil the celebration we all want to have. I am repeating my colleague's question, but from the perspective of success. Are we taking all the necessary precautions to avoid those kinds of problems, which could upset members of the Canadian team?
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
When it comes to official languages, you have seen that, since we have been in charge of the Canadian Olympic Committee, some drastic changes have been made in that area. The official Olympic language is French, and that also helps. Everything we are doing as part of our activities in Sochi is 50-50. You can rest assured that we will defend our Official Languages Act.
Moreover, everyone will have to do their job properly, so that the athletes, families, friends, Canadians on site and the support team are well protected from the disturbances you are talking about. We will separate the boys from men, from parents. Everyone must do their job to ensure good protection, maintain the concentration and provide effective tools for reacting to certain situations. The minister assured us that those tools will be in place. I am under the impression that, if all that work is done properly, those disturbances will not take away from our athletes' performances, if any such disturbances should arise. We are not sure that they will arise, but we have to prepare for the worst.
Liberal
Conservative
Bal Gosal Conservative Bramalea—Gore—Malton, ON
The Department of Canadian Heritage plays a leadership role. In all of the contribution agreements we sign, the commitment is there for both official languages. CBC is the broadcaster, and they are broadcasting in both official languages. Radio-Canada and CBC have broadcasting rights for the games.
As the Government of Canada, we are committed to official languages. All the competitions that are held in Canada are held in both official languages. It's in the signed contribution agreements.
Conservative
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here today. I appreciate it very much.
Madam Assalian, I was very interested in what you said about moral support for athletes, that they really feel it from Canadians. I've felt that in the past with our athletes and para-athletes from Oakville.
How are you planning to use social media to connect with the athletes, to give them the kind of boost they need from the Canadian people? Are the athletes using Twitter now? Are people following our athletes? Is that building up? And how do you plan to maximize that during the games?
Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
If you don't mind, I'll defer the question to our executive director.
Dimitri Soudas Executive Director, Communications, Canadian Olympic Committee
I'll give you an example. About two years ago, the Canadian Olympic Committee had roughly 4,000 followers on Twitter. We're approaching 40,000 followers today. I would say that it's moving in a positive direction.
Yes, with our social media platforms, whether it's our website, www.olympic.ca, our Facebook page, or our Twitter account, we try not only to have one-way communication with fans but also to engage and interact with them and to tell our athletes' stories, to talk about our athletes' performances, whether they be at world championships or the Olympic Games.
Our athletes are obviously very much engaged in social media. They themselves quite often interact with their fans.
The key thing is to connect with fans on the platforms they use. Some people connect with athletes by going to local town halls or to local meetings. That's why over the last 12 months we've had more than 1,000 Olympians re-engage into communities across the country with more than 140 events.
What we try to do is provide all the support to the athletes across all platforms, whether it's social media or communities across the country, whether it's in Santa Claus parades or St. Patrick's Day parades.
As well, just to go back to a couple of questions that were asked, for the first time ever this year, for the first time ever in Canadian Olympic Committee history, our athletes participated in pride parades across the country before it even became an issue.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
That is actually very interesting. When you say “stories”, I think everyone remembers when Alexandre Bilodeau won the first gold medal in Vancouver. The beautiful story was his relationship with his brother. That stuff is very touching, and it helps us remember.
Mr. Aubut, along that line, everybody remembers the people who win the gold. I want to ask you a question about our athletes who don't win, because more don't win than do win.
What support do they get by way of coaching and moral support when they lose?
Conservative
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
When we took over this job we all decided that the core of our business would be the future athletes and coaches; everything else is ancillary. We need finance. We need all kinds of other initiatives, but our core business is athletes and coaches. For the winners and for those who don't win now but could win later, this is very much analyzed, and they have absolute support at all times.
Of course we want to win, and the pressure is strong to do so. We prepare everything to create an environment that allows this. But as far as the athletes—you should have seen the Joannie Rochette situation. The environment was irritated as soon as she lost her mother. It was very impressive. One of my best memories is how we surrounded her and found a way so that she could still perform and win.
No athlete is left alone in our organization.
Conservative
Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
I have a couple of things. As we speak, there are athletes who will not be going to Sochi. They are being de-selected from the team. We are starting right now to work with the Canadian Sport Institute network on an athlete transition program. Some athletes are not going to win, we know that, and we're working with the centres.
The other thing is, as our president said, we have experience dealing with athletes who will not have their best performance at the Olympic Games this time. They may next time, so we need to make sure they stay motivated for next time.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Thank you.
In a different vein, Mr. Aubut, does the location of Sochi in southern Russia present any unique challenges, and if so, how are you addressing them?
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
It is no secret that Russia itself presents challenges, and to hold games in such a small area is also a challenge. Also, we expect the weather to be like Florida on the ground and very cold and snowy in the mountains. This is the kind of weather that no winter sport has experienced before, and challenges will be tremendous. That's what we often talk about, this being the most complex games. That includes all those elements. But we went there many times. The COC set a record as far as familiarization with the location is concerned. On the other hand, we feel we can get around any of those challenges.
It is a small area, but everything is close too. We are going to get from the mountains to the Olympic Park on a fast train that will take minutes. Also, in the park itself, most of the greatest facilities, like the arena and the stadium, are all within walking distance.
There are always big challenges, but there are always advantages that every site, every country, and every city offers. Sochi offers a lot, even if it is a very complex situation.
Conservative
Terence Young Conservative Oakville, ON
Just quickly, could you please tell us the state of your preparations for the Sochi games for both Paralympic and Olympic athletes?
Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
Olympic preparations are going extremely well. Again, we have the experience. We equate Sochi very much to Beijing and the Beijing Olympic Games. Athletes weren't very familiar with the Beijing environment, so we're using the best practices from what we did in Beijing and applying them to Sochi, whether concerning language or other things.
I want to touch on your question on challenges. When our president says we leave no stone unturned, we believe that the challenges, which are going to be challenges for all countries, because of our meticulous preparation, will be an advantage for the Canadian team because they are so well prepared for the Sochi environment.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Gord Brown
Thank you.
We have two minutes left, and we're going to move to Monsieur Dubé.
NDP
Matthew Dubé NDP Chambly—Borduas, QC
Thanks, Mr. Chair.
I want to take this opportunity to thank the witnesses for being here. We heard from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the RCMP representatives who are ensuring the athletes' security and will provide them with information sessions. We just saw that the NDP was justified in asking that they be invited to appear before the committee for this study.
Mr. Aubut, the preparation exercise for the games is done often. I am convinced that, as always, you are well prepared on the sports front.
I have a specific question for you. Vancouver was host to a first-time initiative, I think. I am talking about the Pride House, which was set up by non-governmental organizations, NGOs. The same initiative was set up in London and will once again be implemented in Rio de Janeiro.
Now, a Russian judge is preventing the sponsoring of a pride house in Russia. We are asking that national organizations like yours support those who want to have a pride house. You talked about the record number of facilities on site for these games. Is this something you have thought about and will support once you are on site in Sochi?
President, Canadian Olympic Committee
I will ask Dimitri to answer this question first, and then I will complete his answer.
Executive Director, Communications, Canadian Olympic Committee
Mr. Dubé, thank you for your question. It is a pleasure to see you again.
Vancouver, London and Rio de Janeiro did have or will have gay pride houses. That decision is actually made by the local organizing committee. That body decides who can have a place in the Olympic park and who cannot. That being said, I want to remind you that Canada will have its own Olympic house. As Mr. Aubut said, that house is primarily meant for our athletes' families and friends. In addition, we are currently preparing something—perhaps a special day—to attract more Canadians to visit the house. As Mr. Aubut said earlier, all Canadians, regardless of their sexual orientation, are always welcome.