Aboriginal Team Ontario is in:

A last-second funding commitment from the province has ensured Ontario’s participation at this summer’s North American Indigenous Games (NAIG).

January 24, 2008: Volume 35 #02

The Ministry of Health Promotion committed to the initial payment of $55,000, which was due by Dec. 31, said Marc Laliberte, Aboriginal Team Ontario’s acting chef de mission.

Those funds, committed to just before Christmas, cover the first of two payments needed to get the team registered.

With nearly 600 athletes, coaches and chaperones included in the team – at a cost of $87.50 per person, per payment – Aboriginal Team Ontario would not have been able to participate without the grant.

“We’re working on proposals to cover the second payment in the spring,” Laliberte said, as the province’s funding covered only the initial $55,000.

Despite the province’s funding, Ontario’s participation wasn’t a sure thing until earlier this month.
“We didn’t know if we were in until Jan. 5,” Laliberte said.

Because of the holidays, a cheque from the province couldn’t be cut right away.

“We’re still waiting for that cheque,” he said.

That left Team Ontario borrowing from Aboriginal Sport Circle as a temporary solution, which took more time, he said.

“There was a great sense of relief when we heard we were in,” Laliberte said. “Now we have to focus on meeting the second deadline.”

Some provinces and U.S. states missed the first deadline.Athletes from those regions are looking at paying a penalty of an extra $125 on top of the total of $175 everyone must pay.

While Ontario has registered 573 spots at the Games, not all of them will be filled, Laliberte said.

“Some sports will not go ahead because of poor registration numbers,” he said. “In some cases, we can’t field teams because we don’t have enough athletes for those sports.”

Senior women’s basketball, and senior men’s and women’s softball have been pulled.

Rosters for the other teams remain in flux. Some athletes have already committed to participate in sports and tryouts are still necessary in other events.

“Selections for Aboriginal Team Ontario have been going since July 2007 around the province,” Laliberte said.
Team Ontario is hoping to field teams in archery, badminton, basketball, boxing, canoeing, golf, lacrosse, softball, swimming, track and field, volleyball and wrestling.

“An effort for including more youth from the north is ongoing,” Laliberte said. “The largest number of northern tryouts ever were held for Ontario. The final roster selections should reflect this, although fundraising success will play a role in the ability of team members to commit to attend the NAIG.

“Therefore it is very important to identify a large group of alternates to cover for those athletes who cannot meet the financial obligations that the NAIG requires.”