Canada celebrates Olympic athletes, pledges $755 million

Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes were celebrated in Ottawa on Wednesday, with dozens of competitors from the recent Milano Cortina Games in Italy participating in a day of events in the capital. The athletes were first hosted by Governor General Mary Simon at Rideau Hall before attending a reception on Parliament Hill.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the assembled athletes, highlighting the government's recent commitment of $755 million in funding over five years for high-performance sport. He described the investment as a sign of the government's dedication to supporting Canadian athletes on the world stage.

The announcement addresses long-standing calls from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic committees for increased core funding for national sport organizations. According to the committees, this foundational funding had not seen an increase in more than two decades. Athletes present at the event expressed appreciation for the financial commitment but noted that questions remain regarding how the new funds will be distributed across various sports and organizations.

During the reception, Prime Minister Carney mingled with the athletes. He met with three-time World...