Team BC has partnered with Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (CSI Pacific) to create the Team BC Games Prep Program, a new initiative for the 2021 Canada Summer Games. This program will grant potential Team BC athletes access to CSI Pacific’s suite of Athlete Coach Services, previously available to only targeted provincial and national team athletes. The program aims to provide Team BC’s athletes with access to services and resources that will prepare them to compete at their best as they move up the high performance pathway and represent the province at the national stage.
“Supporting athletes and coaches representing BC at the Canada Games has been a key driver to the success of our provincial high performance sport system,” notes Drew Todd, Manager, Performance Programs at CSI Pacific. “This opportunity allows CSI Pacific, and its network of PacificSport Centres, to further support athletes deeper in the podium pathway and will lead to greater performances at the Games. We would like to thank Team BC and the BC Games Society for collaborating so actively in this initiative.”
The Team BC Games Prep Program is an initiative for athletes long-listed by their respective Provincial Sport Organization to receive pre-Games support similar to CSI Pacific’s Provincial Development level. While many athletes that compete at the Canada Games are already targeted and part of CSI Pacific’s program, this new initiative provides a greater number of athletes access to valuable services and resources they may not have been eligible for before.
“We are incredibly excited about this new initiative and the partnership with CSI Pacific,” said Jarret Poitras, Team BC’s Operations Manager. "The intent of this initiative is to provide support services that will help prepare Team BC's athletes for what will likely be for many the highest level of competition in their young athletic careers. The Canada Games is an amazing multi-sport games experience, and if we can help athletes achieve personal bests, find the podium, or simply help them along their pursuit as high performance athletes, this initiative will be a success. This would not be possible without the support of CSI Pacific and their industry-leading high performance programs.
Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) will need to submit their long lists to Team BC between May and the end of October 2020. Once the long lists are approved by CSI Pacific and Team BC, athletes will be able to contact their respective Regional Centre to register and begin accessing high performance benefits, programs, and services.
It is important to note that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize there is uncertainty right now as to what services will be available to athletes. However, CSI Pacific has a number of benefits available to athletes online, and is working to develop more services that will be accessible remotely. Team BC and CSI Pacific will work to provide updates to all eligible athletes once more services become available as conditions improve.
For more information on the suite of Athlete and Coach Services being provided to Team BC's athletes, click on the following link: http://www.csipacific.ca/athletes/benefits/.