The Malaviya Foundation Deepens Commitment to Olympic and Paralympic Medallists Ahead of Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 with Team Canada Podium Awards

TORONTO (May 16, 2024) – The Canadian Olympic Foundation and the Paralympic Foundation of Canada are pleased to announce the Team Canada Podium Awards to support Team Canada medallists at Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026, thanks to a commitment of upwards of $1.4 million from the Malaviya Foundation.

The Team Canada Podium Awards will give Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026 medallists a $5,000 grant per medal earned. Additionally, $100,000 will go to Olympic and Paralympic Next Generation Initiatives, helping to fund the highest priority needs of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and the Paralympic Foundation of Canada.

“The Malaviya Foundation’s generous commitment to Team Canada athletes is invaluable,” said Jacqueline Ryan, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and Chief Brand and Commercial Officer of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “Despite our very best efforts, athletes still don’t have all the resources they need to compete at the highest levels. We are so grateful for the Malaviya Foundation’s continued leadership ahead of Paris 2024 and Milano-Cortina 2026, at a time when athletes need it the most. We hope this gift inspires Canadians to support Team Canada this summer and beyond.”

“The funding support that the Malaviya Foundation has granted the Paralympic Foundation of Canada over the years has been instrumental in creating opportunities and achieving greater equity for Paralympic athletes to fulfill their full potential,” said Dean Brokop, Executive Director of the Paralympic Foundation of Canada and Chief Philanthropic Officer of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “We are truly thankful.”

This gift follows the Malaviya Foundation’s $1.2 million donation to the Canadian Olympic Foundation and the Paralympic Foundation of Canada in 2022, celebrating Team Canada medallists at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

“Canadian sport serves as a catalyst for uniting the nation and bringing communities together,” said Sanjay Malaviya, the Canadian healthcare tech entrepreneur behind the Malaviya Foundation. “Team Canada athletes are inspirational in many ways and it’s an honour to be able to support and celebrate them as they represent our country at the highest level of competition.”

The Team Canada Podium Awards are in addition to the funding that Olympians and Paralympians receive for winning a medal from the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athlete Excellence Fund and the Paralympic Performance Recognition Program, which was established in part by a gift from the Malaviya Foundation in January 2024.

About the Canadian Olympic Foundation:
The Canadian Olympic Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Canadian Olympic Committee, with the joint purpose to transform Canada through the power of sport. Donations to the COF directly benefit Team Canada athletes at all stages of their Olympic journeys, and the high-performance services that support them.

When you invest in an athlete’s journey, you provide key resources needed to propel them over the finish line – and inspire a nation. Join Team Canada at Olympic.ca/foundation.

About the Paralympic Foundation of Canada:
The Paralympic Foundation of Canada is the registered charitable foundation of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. Our shared vision is through Paralympic sport, an inclusive world. We believe Paralympic sport has the power to ignite transformative change in Canada, contributing to a more inclusive nation where people with disabilities are valued for all their capabilities, differences, and diversity.  For more information, visit ParalympicFoundation.ca.  

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MEDIA CONTACTS:

Peter Saltsman
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 647-382-6986
E: psaltsman@olympic.ca

Koteki Inaba
Program Manager, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
C: 514-861-5791
E: kinaba@olympic.ca

Nicole Watts
Senior Manager, Communications & PR
Canadian Paralympic Committee
C: 613-462-2700
E: nwatts@paralympic.ca