Government funding for Canadian Paralympic Nordic ski team cut in half

From CBC News in Canada:

Members of Canada's Paralympic Nordic ski team are desperately seeking private sponsors after learning last week their funding from government has been cut in half.

Island Paralympic athlete Mark Arendz (pictured) told CBC News July 21 he'll need sponsors to help him continue competing at the highest level in the sport of nordic skiing. There is only enough funding left to attend one international event this year, the world championship, but Arendz said that won't be enough to compete with the world's best.

"In order to be fast at world championships, we need to go to world cups, go to training camps, have our sports scientists working with us. That's what we lose with this funding cut," he said.

The 20-year-old Arendz competed in his first Paralympics in Vancouver, finishing seventh in the three-kilometre biathlon.

Without private sponsors, Arendz will have to continue training on his own. (CBC)
Arendz said it will cost $100,000 for him to compete at all the world cup events, and he needs to compete in those events in order to continue receiving any money as a carded athlete. That money only covers basic living expenses while an athlete trains.

"We knew there would be some cuts. The bigger surprise was how much we got cut," said Arendz.

There is no money left for coaches or support staff, who will be gone in the fall. Members of the team are hoping to pool their individual sponsorship money to hire them back.

Arendz said properly preparing for the next Paralympic games four years from now in Russia will cost a total of $500,000.

CBC News tried to reach federal government officials and the Canadian Paralympic committee Wednesday to see how other teams have been affected, but they weren't available for comment.