Canada Doubles Next Gen Funding: Federal Share Rises to $10 Million a Year, Over $20 Million With Private Match

The Government of Canada, the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) and the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced on October 29 that annual funding for the Next Gen program will double beginning this year. The federal investment rises from $5 million a year to $10 million, with private-sector funding matching it dollar for dollar, bringing total public-private investment to more than $20 million a year.

What the money supports

Next Gen supports Canada's emerging high-performance athletes on the path to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing access to world-class coaching, training environments, competition opportunities and sport science expertise, helping more athletes stay in sport, reach their potential and gain major-event experience. The partners say the expanded commitment will reach more athletes at a critical stage of their development and strengthen Canada's pipeline for future Games.

The record since 2017

Since the program began in 2017, it has supported 4,358 Team Canada athletes on their Olympic journeys and 634 on their Paralympic journeys; 401 Next Gen athletes have competed at an Olympic Games and 134 at a Paralympic Games, winning 74 Olympic medals and 44 Paralympic medals.

At Paris 2024, 42% of Team Canada athletes had benefited from Next Gen support, accounting for 17 of Canada's 27 medals; at the Paris Paralympic Games the share was 58%, accounting for 20 of 31 medals. At the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, 62% of Team Canada athletes had benefited, accounting for 15 of 21 medals; at the Paralympic Winter Games the share was 65%, accounting for 16 of 30 medals.

What athletes say

Secretary of State (Sport) Adam van Koeverden said the government is committed to investing in athletes' success on the world stage, and that the innovative partnership with the private sector brings new investment into Canadian sport. Paralympian Heidi Peters, of sitting volleyball, said Next Gen funding was undeniably one of the reasons her team has a Paralympic bronze medal, helping the team train in their hometowns between competitions and camps.

The partners also announced that the Government of Canada will host the Canada Strong Through Sport: The Playground to Podium Summit in November, bringing sport, private industry and philanthropy together with five objectives: transform, invest, align, participate and deliver.