L'année 2014 était dès le départ une année de célébration pour l'Institut canadien du sport de Calgary (ICSC). Avec les célébrations de son 20e anniversaire et les Jeux olympiques d'hiver de Sotchi, en Russie, de nombreux événements étaient au programme. Et cette année n'a pas été une déception. Que ce soit en raison du triomphe de nos athlètes aux Jeux olympiques ou de notre déménagement dans nos nouvelles installations ultramodernes, l'année 2014 aura certainement été une année mémorable. Le président et chef de la direction, Dale Henwood, nous offre un bon résumé du début de cette année 2015 : « Au début de cette nouvelle année, il est important de réfléchir au passé et d'embrasser l'avenir. C'est une période stimulante qui nous encourage à aller de l'avant et à préparer l'ICS à sa croissance et à sa réussite tout en restant conscient de l'environnement d'affaires dans lequel nous évoluons. »
2014 was always going to be a year to celebrate for the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSIC). Celebrating its 20th anniversary and looking forward to the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, there were many events to anticipate. The year did not disappoint. From the Olympic triumphs of the athletes to moving into a new home with state-of-the-art facilities, 2014 was certainly a year to remember. President and CEO Dale Henwood summarizes the beginning of 2015 best, believing that, "As we start a new year it is important to reflect on the past and embrace the future. This is an exciting time to look forward and to prepare the CSI for growth and success while being mindful of the business environment in which we operate."
February's Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, was the highlight of 2014 from an athlete performance perspective. With CSIC supported athletes Kaillie Humphries, Heather Moyse, Erik Carleton, Chris Klebl, Brian McKeever, and members of the women's hockey team all coming home as Gold Medallists, the Institute's impact on success was reinforced. The success of the CSIC's winter athletes also served to give many summer athletes additional motivation as they prepared for amazing performances at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Those same summer athletes are now looking forward to the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.
The 2014 move to the facilities at Canada Olympic Park was especially impactful for both employees and athletes at the CSIC. Aside from the benefits of the world-leading weight room and training facilities where the athletes are fitted with Under Armour sponsored uniforms, athletes have access to on-site services such as sport medicine, sport science testing, physical and mental consultants, and strength trainers. Included in the facility is an athletes' lounge complete with a beautiful kitchen that not only allows for prompt and proper recovery after training sessions, but has also served as the location of an increased number of nutrition information session such as the Taste Buds series. The CSIC staff have greatly benefitted from the move as well, with the new location allowing all staff members to work in one centralized location, providing increased communication and enhanced services to the athletes.
Never content with simply maintaining the status quo, the Performance Services teams at the CSIC have continued to improve their abilities and receive increasing accolades for their work. By transitioning into an Institute from a Centre there has been opportunity for increased communication amongst team members and the result has been improved integration of services. The impact on athletes has been evident, with the CSIC's highly skilled specialists continuing to be in high demand from National Sport Organizations who have requested increases in support for their athletes and coaches.
2014 also brought about exciting advancements in the CSIC's Life Services portfolio, with the long-anticipated launch of the Game Plan Program. Game Plan is a national program created with the intention of helping athletes focus on performance when it matters most while also preparing for success once their athletic careers have ended. Taking a proactive approach to both life and career planning, the program uses a customized approach to ensure that athletes' specific needs are being met. The program has already received a great deal of athlete praise over its ability to allow for optimal performances throughout every stage of athletes' careers by ensuring that they are focused on performance while also being prepared for a successful life after sport.
2014 was a year that significantly reinforced the CSIC's commitment to delivering world leading coaching development opportunities. Hosting the Global Coaches House conference during the Sochi Olympic Games in partnership with the International Council for Coach Excellence, the University of Calgary, and the Coaching Association of Canada, the CSIC continued to ensure that the vital role of coaching was not overlooked as a developing area. With 28 sessions over 10 days, Global Coaches House Calgary hosted international speakers who spoke on a variety of topics to support coaching at many different levels. The opportunity to learn from many of the world's best coaching minds attracted coaches from across Canada, including those who participated virtually. The CSIC continued to support the program during the Global Coaches House Glasgow, which offered on-site learning opportunities for coaches who were attending the Commonwealth Games.
Every year passes with successes and failures. Fortunately, 2014 went by as a year with many things to celebrate for the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary. As we move into 2015, The Year of Sport in Canada, Dale Henwood is enthused by "the huge opportunity for the CSI to have an even greater impact on the Canadian High Performance sport system." Here's to an amazing 2015 and another 20 years supporting high performance sport. Happy New Year!
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Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary
Written by Brittany Schussler: @bschussler
Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto
Game Plan: www.mygameplan.ca
The Canadian Sport Institute Calgary (CSIC) athletes and staff are benefitting from a multi-year partnership between Under Armour Canada and WinSport. The values of both WinSport and the CSIC are aligned with Under Armour’s brand mission of making all athletes better through passion, design and the relentless pursuit of innovation.
Part of Under Armour’s role within the agreement is to support athletes as the official performance athletic apparel and footwear sponsor of WinSport. This includes providing a kit to CSIC athletes and coaches each year that consists of a gym bag, shoes, two pairs of shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, two short-sleeved shirts, six pairs of socks, a track suit and a compression kit.
Having training apparel provided is a major advantage in the opinion of athletics athlete Seyi Smith, who enjoys the opportunity to provide direct feedback to the company who manufactures his training gear. Smith says, “Athletics is a full body sport in which every inch of your body must be working optimally. With Under Armour, athletes are getting to train and compete without clothing being a limiting factor. We are able to maximize the training effect and be the best we can be.”
WinSport’s Executive Vice-President and Chief Sport Officer Stephen Norris also notes the importance of this advantage, stating, “WinSport has secured Under Armour’s support in providing world-leading apparel kits to high performance athletes. We strive to provide athletes with the best possible daily training environment, and we have taken that one step further with the apparel and footwear kits.”
Through the partnership, Under Armour is also a major supporter of the high performance training centre and public training facility at WinSport’s Markin MacPhail Centre. The high performance training centre in which the CSIC athletes train on a regular basis contains motivational branding where the words “Stay Humble Be Hungry” are written on the wall to reinforce the shared goals of the organizations, sponsors, and athletes.
The shared vision of Under Armour, the CSIC, and WinSport continues to help the athletes be the best in the world. Luge athlete Kimberley McRae sums up the CSIC athletes’ enthusiasm for the partnership, exclaiming, “The Under Armour gear we have received has been great! From shoes to tank tops, we are covered for the gear we need to train in each day. Thanks Under Armour!”
