By: JP - May. 13, 2008

May 1st, 2008

Dear National Sport Organization,

The Canada Games Council (CGC) and the Foundation for Athletes and Sport Training (FAST) is launching today the fourth year of the Canada Games FAST Track athlete program. Last year we received over 1,300 applications, and awarded 47 grants to next generation national team athletes across the country. Athletes from every sport, province, and territory in Canada applied, and it has been with your assistance that the Canada Games FAST program has been a success!

The number of applications has been rising steadily since the first year of the program. Three years of experience behind us, together with your feedback, means that this year we are able to refine our systems to streamline the process of athlete selection. For the first time since its creation, the Canada Games FAST Track athlete program is dividing its sports into two separate candidate pools, alternating access to the grant from year to year between winter and summer sports.

Please inform your athletes and P/TSOs that the Canada Games FAST Track program application and information are available at either www.canadagames.ca . The application deadline is June 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

To ensure that the athlete selection process is streamlined and effective, we are asking that you provide a copy of your NSO depth chart for upcoming athletes who are not yet carded in the Athlete Assistance Program administered by Sport Canada. It would be greatly appreciated if you could please email this to Isabelle Petit at ipetit@canadagames.ca by June 2nd, 2008.

Thank you once again for your past involvement in the program. Please assist this year’s program by posting both the application guidelines and a link to the application form on your website. In addition, please ensure you inform eligible athletes of the program.

For further information, or comments regarding the program, please telephone 613.526.2320 or e-mail ipetit@canadagames.ca

Kind Regards,

Sue Hylland
President and CEO
Canada Games Council
www.canadagames.ca