The Athlete Assistance Program (or carding program) is a program where the

Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...

(through

Sport Canada Sport Canada is a branch of the Department of Canadian Heritage that develops federal sport policy in Canada, provides funding programs in support of sport, and administers special projects related to sport. Its mission "to enhance opportunitie ...

) provides funding assistance to elite level Canadian

athletes An athlete is most commonly a person who competes in one or more sports involving physical strength, speed, power, or endurance. Sometimes, the word "athlete" is used to refer specifically to sport of athletics competitors, i.e. including trac ...

. Athletes who are receiving this assistance are called carded athletes. To qualify the athlete has to be one of the top 16 in the world in their sport, or to have the potential of reaching the top 16. Athletes are nominated by their National Sports Organization. Only athletes in sports that are funded by Sport Canada, will be considered. Monthly funding is provided directly to the athletes and the tuition at a post secondary institution is also paid for. The funding (in 2006 either $900 or $1500 per month) is not intended to cover living expenses, but only to cover some of the additional expenses that elite athletes have for training and competing.

External links

Athlete Assistance Program
from the

website
CBC Digital Archives - Funding of Amateur Sports
{{canada-sport-stub Sports organizations of Canada Department of Canadian Heritage