Last week the Canadian Olympic Committee went down the street in Ottawa to meet with members of Parliament in an attempt to secure an additional $22 million from the public trough so that they can keep feeding a system they themselves created and now administer. Understand that the federal government (which means all us taxpayers) are being asked to cough up $50 million in funding for next year PLUS the 22 that was given by VANOC and the provinces in the years leading up to the Vancouver Games. So the fact is that the destitute and woebegone COC is pleading for $72 million.

How much will the COC themselves raise next year or in the coming years?

Apparently, not a nickel.

What new programs has the COC initiated to increase the amount of funding it procures on its own?

None that have been announced.

If the COC were to actually succeed in luring contributions from private sources (corporate or individual), would they give back a like amount to Ottawa?

Huh, fat chance.

In other words, The Canadian Olympic Committee seems quite content to be beggars…both now and for eternity. Their complete addiction to handouts is both appalling and undeniable. The only difference between them and the poor soul on the street is that the COC won't even invest the time to ask for a handout a quarter or a dollar at a time. No, they want it all in one neatly tied bundle of cash. In other words, heaven forbid they actually DO something to get it!

And where does this windfall go? Well, I'm sure that some of it will go to athletes who are needy. I don't doubt for a second that there are plenty of Winter Olympians who come from impoverished backgrounds. For years their parents had to sacrifice food and shelter so that little Johnny or Jane could go skiing every weekend…or take skating lessons…or join the curling club. And what about those trips to the biathlon competitions? I mean, we are talking tens of thousands…maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get to the point of being good enough to qualify for funding. Interestingly enough, it isn't until these athletes are identified as possible Olympians that they all seem to collectively run out of money. It's a curious thing, but it must be true. Surely these athletes are not a bunch of rich kids whose parents are only too willing to let the government pick up the tab? No, we wouldn't be that stupid, that gullible, would we?

I mean, take the case of Kevin Martin, who will represent our country in men's curling. By winning the Olympic qualification tournament this past weekend, Martin and his rink will share $180,000 from Sport Canada as A-carded athletes over a 30 month period. What is interesting is that they will receive 90% of that money AFTER they compete in Vancouver. Hmmm! It is also worth noting that the Canadian Curling Association has seen fit to throw in an additional $50,000.

Now I don't like picking on Kevin and his mates, but his situation is demonstrative of what is wrong with the system. The Martin four are not a bunch of pimply-faced kids with no means of support who went to Edmonton in tattered sweaters with holes in their sliding shoes. Martin's teams have won more than $2,000,000 curling. They all have jobs and their status allows them to take off work just about whenever they want…to curl! So, explain to me how $180 grand now is going to improve their chances in February? Well, you can't and neither can anyone else.

This is the system. Free money from you and me…whether you need it or not! No need to sell chocolate bars. No begging on street corners. You see, the COC takes care of that.

"Alms for the athletes, m' Lord. Alms for the athletes…"