CALGARY, AB (January 23, 2009) -- Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA) announced a new name and brand that better suits the organization’s role as a catalyst for the development and support of Canadian athletes.

CODA announced today that it has changed its name to the Canadian Winter Sport Institute, which will also be known as WinSport Canada. The transformation resulted from a need to better portray that the organization is for all Canadians to discover, develop, and excel in sport, and, in addition, to signify the evolution to an institute model, the first of its kind in Canada.

“The legacy of CODA is now evolving into a new vision for Canada,” said Guy Huntingford, WinSport Canada President and CEO. “We are creating the nation’s first winter sport institute and one of the most unique athletic environments in the world where athletes and sport organizations from many different sport backgrounds can come together and learn from each other’s success.”

CODA’s rich history and tradition of supporting Canadian athletic excellence derives from its management of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games legacy facilities. These facilities have played a crucial role in developing Canada’s elite athletes along with providing a recreational playground for youth to discover and participate in sport. The direct impact of CODA’s efforts over the past twenty years and those of its partners is that almost three-quarters of the medal winners at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games were either Albertan or had trained at ’88 legacy facilities.

WinSport Canada will be the incubator for high-performance Canadian athletes and a place that develops and inspires young people to be the best they can be. “Our Government recognizes the need for elite and amateur athletic investment, and we share in WinSport Canada’s commitment to giving our athletes the tools they need to succeed,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport). “The foundation for building success as an athlete is having everything needed for training and enhancement together under one roof. The lasting legacy of the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games—direct sport development opportunities, infrastructure, and community and economic development—has provided a tremendous advantage for Canadians and will continue to benefit future generations. The creation of WinSport Canada will ensure that our athletes continue to have the support they need to compete internationally and make Canada a leading sport nation.”

The institute will be a place where state-of-the-art training facilities, coaching, programming, clinicians, research in sport, and much more are blended to create an ideal environment for Canadian athletes to develop from playground to podium. It will create a culture of excellence and provide unparalleled opportunities for generations to come.

“The Government of Canada is proud to help make a difference in the lives of Calgarians and of the athletes who will benefit from our contribution to WinSport Canada,” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of John Baird, Canada’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister. “The development of this modern sports complex will also deliver important economic returns to the region by attracting businesses and creating jobs.”

WinSport Canada encompasses all the following facilities:

Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, WinSport Canada’s primary training centre for competitive winter sport and all-season recreational activities;

Bill Warren Training Centre at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Canmore, Alberta;

Beckie Scott High Performance Training Centre on the Haig Glacier in southern Alberta for summer Nordic training;

Camp Green on Farnham Glacier in British Columbia for summer alpine training;

Olympic Oval in Calgary—WinSport Canada funds two-thirds of the operating costs of the fastest ice in the world at the Olympic Oval, training home for long and short track speed skating;

Athletic and Ice Complex , the new facility currently under construction at Canada Olympic Park.

The Athletic and Ice Complex (AIC) is a 500,000-square-foot facility that was designed with extensive input from athletes, coaches, and various sport organizations. The AIC will provide a competitive advantage for Canadian athletes as well as recreational opportunities for youth pursuing active lifestyles and to be inspired by high performance athletes. It will also be the new home for Hockey Canada, Skate Canada, and many other national and provincial sport organizations. The goal for completion of the Athletic and Ice Complex is mid-2011.

“We are proud of the role that our Olympic legacy facilities play in helping to achieve excellence in Canadian winter sports,” said the Hon. Cindy Ady, Minister of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. ”Our investment in upgrading these facilities and our ongoing collaboration with WinSport Canada will ensure Alberta remains an important training ground for Canadian athletes.”

As with all facilities at WinSport Canada, the AIC will have the capability to host national and international sporting events. These types of sport institutes become hubs for tourism, along with providing endless benefits to local communities.

“The incredible facilities of the Canadian Winter Sport Institute provides Calgarians, regardless of age and skill level, the opportunities to get involved in sport and lead healthier active lives,” said Alderman Joe Connelly, City of Calgary Ward 6. “The City’s involvement in this project symbolizes our commitment to fostering stronger, healthier communities.”

Duff Gibson, Olympic gold medalist in skeleton, represented Canada’s high-performance athletes at the announcement, saying, “It’s no secret that success breeds success. Investing in sport is fantastic for a society in general, for many reasons well above and beyond how many medals we win in an Olympic Games. That’s certainly a bonus and builds our national pride, but in the big picture, how many young kids watch that and are inspired to participate themselves. That ultimately is the greatest legacy of having a sport institute like WinSport Canada; it helps build a healthier nation.”

Reprinted with permission of WinSport Canada.