Show your own #WinningFace to encourage Team Canada—because Canadians, through Government of Canada programs, support our athletes from playground to podium

“There’s nothing better than the moment when an athlete realizes the long-term goal of making it to one of those three very coveted spots on the podium. That expression is priceless and unforgettable: we call it the winning face. So throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games, we invite all Canadians to show their support for Team Canada by capturing their own winning face. Together, let’s show Team Canada that their victories are our victories too!”

—The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

“As athletes, we can’t do what we do alone, so we have a big support team outside of our teammates who compete on the ice with us. We’re so excited for the upcoming Games and are thrilled to represent our amazing country at the Olympics.”

—Kaitlyn Lawes, Curling Olympian

“To get the opportunity to wear the maple leaf on your chest, it’s such an honour to represent all the people back home and know you’re making the country proud with your performance. It’s unbelievable. I’m going for gold in PyeongChang.”

—Adam Dixon, Para Ice Hockey Paralympian

• The campaign is available in both official languages using the hashtags #WinningFace and #FaceGagnante

• The Government of Canada is the single largest investor in sport in Canada, providing approximately $200 million in funding to the Canadian sport system annually to promote sport participation among all Canadians. It provides support for our athletes, their national and multisport organizations, the sport centres and institutes that help train them, and the hosting of events that let them compete with the best.

• Through Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program (AAP), the government also provides a total of $33 million each year to high-performance athletes to help them relieve some of the financial pressures associated with preparing for and participating in international sport. It also helps high-performance Canadian athletes with their living, training and education expenses. Supplemental support allows them to focus on their day-to-day commitments while training intensively in pursuit of world-class performances, and tuition support assists them in obtaining a post-secondary education.

• The government provides funding for the next generation of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. An ongoing investment of up to $10 million annually—$5 million from the Government of Canada, matched by $4 million from the Canadian Olympic Committee and $1 million from the Canadian Paralympic Committee—supports athletes who have demonstrated medal potential for the subsequent Olympic or Paralympic Games.

Associated Links

• #WinningFace Movement
• Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018
• Sport Canada Facebook
• Sport Canada Twitter
• Sport Canada Instagram

For more information (media only), please contact:

Annabelle Archambault
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Science and
Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities
819-934-1122
annabelle.archambault@canada.ca

Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
pch.media-media.pch@canada.ca