Shoe money tonight

Finally!

Yes, in some cases in life, the journey can be the reward. And I’d be the first to say the Olympic games probably qualify for that status. If ever there was a place “I’m just happy to be here” could apply, it’s at the opening ceremonies of an Olympiad.

That said, it’s been a long time coming, and it’s so nice to see the Canadian Olympic Committee has finally approved rewards for Canadians bringing medals home. In addition to the Own the Podium 2010 program, which saw the COC dump every available resource into training and resources for our athletes, significant cash rewards shows even more commitment to our athletes.

It’s something that’s been debated for a long time within the COC, radio talk shows, and countless other forums. Frankly, the tired old “it’s supposed to be amateur athletes” argument doesn’t work anymore. And it hasn’t worked for a long time. As always, we can blame America. Whether we point the finger at their allegedly outrageous cash rewards, the Dream Teams they sent to the summer Olympic basketball tournaments, or something as simple as the Wheaties box, American athletes have been making money of the Games for a long time now, and their performances have reflected that.

This is a big step for the COC, and it’s a step firmly in the right direction. The payouts-- $20, 000 for gold, $15k for silver, and $10k for bronze-- are substantial, yet modest by other standards. And I’ll even buy the COC’s argument the modest payouts allows the COC to continue to pour money into training programs. It’s a big win for our athletes, and as an Olympic nation, we’re well on our way to becoming a powerhouse.

In fact, this news has me so excited, I’m going to go visit the Canada Olympic Park here in Calgary this week, just to help out (OK, my $6 for admission won‘t go very far, but the $149 bobsleigh run doesn‘t open till December).

With thanks to Sports Night, the greatest televisions show ever, for the title.