The True Sport Secretariat is pleased to announce that the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance (CSTA) has recently joined a growing list of organizations who are lending their support to the True Sport Strategy, Canada’s national strategy to promote values-driven sport for all participants. The CSTA’s Board of Directors endorsed the Strategy earlier this month at the Sport Events Congress 2005 in Ottawa.
“We are excited to work with the True Sport Secretariat to help promote sport as a positive and valuable influence in the lives of children, youth and communities,” said Ursula Thiboutot, CSTA President. “The sport tourism industry is growing rapidly in communities of all sizes across Canada and a significant amount of sport tourism occurs at the community level. Endorsing the True Sport Movement, which reaches into communities all over the country, represents an important alliance for the CSTA.”
“True Sport gives expression to the kind of sport we all want for our children and our communities,” said Dina Bell-Laroche, Director of the True Sport Secretariat. “Our goal is to connect 2010 True Sport Communities by 2010 and one of the driving forces behind this Movement will be early champions, such as the CSTA, who recognize the inherent value of helping sport live up to its full potential.”
The True Sport Strategy is a coordinated and collaborative initiative amongst members of the sport, recreation and physical activity communities, to ensure that values-driven sport becomes central to the sport experience for all participants. The Strategy lives within the Building Capacity pillar of the Canadian Sport Policy and has been endorsed by the Federal-Provincial/ Territorial Ministers responsible for sport, recreation and fitness.
Led by a national Steering Committee, the True Sport Strategy is supported by a number of organizations including the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport; Athletes CAN; the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Sport Canada; Hockey Canada; Skate Canada; the Canadian Council for Territorial/ Provincial Sport Federations; Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Sport Committee; the Sport Matters Group; Sport Officials Canada; the Canadian Parks and Recreation Association; the Canadian Professional Coaches Association; Sport Manitoba; Direction de la promotion de la sécurité – Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport; Athletics Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance was created in November 2000 through a partnership with the Canadian Tourism Commission. The CSTA’s mission is to increase capacity and competitiveness of communities across Canada in hosting sporting events. One of their key objectives is to market Canada internationally as a preferred sport tourism destination. The CSTA leverages its expertise and leadership as a catalyst to grow the $2 billion a year sport tourism industry in Canada, promoting the development of partnerships between events rights holders and host cities. Other activities of the CSTA include sharing best practices, measuring the economic impact of sport events and enhancing the profile of sport tourism.
-30-
For more information:
Dina Bell-Laroche
Director, True Sport Secretariat
613-521-8413
Ursula Thiboutot
President, Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance
613-260-1348
