Canada announces over $17M to strengthen Team Canada's Olympic and Paralympic sport science support

Full report

WINNIPEG, October 15, 2026 — The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), announced at the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba, a legacy of the 1999 Pan American Games, more than $17 million in funding for the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN) in 2026-27, which includes an additional $5.4 million this year.

The investment will enhance the support athletes receive, giving them greater access to physiology, nutrition, mental performance, sport medicine and expert coaching. Today's announcement is part of $112 million in new Sport Support Program funding, which provides national-level sport organizations with additional mid-fiscal-year funding through a streamlined process, supporting safe sport and sport integrity measures, expanded participation, athlete development and high-performance programs.

The government is also providing more direct financial support to athletes. In July, the Secretary of State announced a $3-million annual increase to the Athlete Assistance Program, bringing its total yearly funding to $43 million. The increase raises monthly allocations for senior carded athletes and extends benefits to more of them, including athletes in sports new to the Olympic and Paralympic programs and guides for athletes with visual impairments, while increasing support for para athletes and athletes with children.

“Canada's top athletes are a great source of pride for our entire country. Every time an Olympic or Paralympic athlete competes, they wear the maple leaf on their jersey or the Canada name on their back. They represent us all, and every athlete needs a strong team behind them,” said van Koeverden. Matt Barr, Executive Director of the Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba, speaking on behalf of COPSIN, said the funding recognizes the important role the institutes play in Canada's sport system.

These measures are part of the Government of Canada's generational $1-billion investment in sport — the largest in the country's history — to improve access to sport, host world-class events, upgrade stadiums, fields and community recreation facilities, and help athletes succeed from the playground to the podium.