It's No Dash For Cash

It was considered the ultimate carrot when the Canadian Olympic Committee first laid it on the table. The kind of thing that might level the playing field for our athletes, if even a bit.
Isn't it funny, though, that as Canada's medal total climbs at the Beijing Games — were still stuck on 13 after five straight hardware-filled days — that almost no mention is being made of the cash these athletes will collect for their efforts in China.
For the first time, the COC is paying cold hard cash to its medal winners at the Olympic Games: $20,000 for gold, $10,000 for silver and $5,000 for bronze. While it's money they'll no doubt cherish when it comes to paying the bills after the flame goes out in Beijing, if there's an athlete raving about the prospect of it all after climbing onto the Olympic podium, he or she must be whispering.
When freestyle wrestler Carol Huynh of Hazelton, B.C., was presented with the thought by the media after giving Canada's medal rush a golden start, here's how she responded: "I kind of heard about it a little but I didn't read up on it."
I remember a collective cheer coming from Canada's amateur sport community when this long-overdue program was first announced. But at the end of the day, it's clear these fine young men and women don't come to the Olympics motivated by the possibility of a mad dash for cash, so to speak.
For them, it's all about excellence and striving to be their best and, above all, pride in the the country they represent and the red maple they wear. In other words, the purity of sport.
Something to think about every time you hear the stampede headed toward a certain eight-gold medal swimmer, offering him the next get-rich-quick scheme.
*****
Interesting take by Toronto Sun columnist Alison Korn, a two-time Olympic rowing medallist and onetime story subject for your humble blogger, on hurdler Perdita Felicien's reaction to Priscilla Lopes-Schliep's bronze-medal win in the women's 100-metre hurdles Tuesday (Felicien, who predicted before the race that the Canadian had the potential to finish as high as third in the Olympic final, is working as a track analyst for CBC in Beijing after an injury ended her Games hopes).
Before you read this, bear in mind that Korn is a former athlete who knows better than most of us what goes on between those folks' ears. Like I said, a very interesting read.
(you'll need to scroll to the bottom of the column to see what I mean, to the 'More Cruel Than Cool' part).
*****
With his mother having just succumbed to pancreatic cancer, CBC Olympic Prime anchor Ron MacLean is headed home to Oakville, Ont., after tonight's show. Olympic Morning co-host Scott Russell will move into MacLean's chair for the rest of the Games.
Our prayers are definitely with MacLean at what is no doubt a difficult time. Safe travels home from the Orient.