As a Canadian viewer it was not easy controlling the lump in your throat during the past few weeks of a wonderful performance by all involved at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Sidney Crosby's overtime goal was the icing on the cake of a Canadian Olympic vision made possible by the unfairly criticized Own The Podium program.
If the intent by Simon Barnes from The Times in London, who took a scathing swipe at Canada's performance and ability to host was to embarrass us as a nation then it fell to the ground like a lead balloon. On the contrary, it appeared to propel the Canadian athletes to winning more gold medals in a Winter Olympic Games than had ever been achieved by any other nation.
Barnes's reference to China and Australia coming of age through their own hosting of an Olympics was ironic when watching the hundred's of thousands of Canadians taking to the streets to celebrate the athletic success of our own country. A sporting nation was forged as our athletes and supporters came of age in Vancouver. It was good to be a Canadian on Sunday night.
Now, if only our Canadian soccer program could do the same. Taking lessons from the Canadian Olympic committee and our hockey program would be a good start. So would having a dream that one day, as many Canadians will take to the streets in celebration of a national soccer success.
All achievements of the magnitude displayed by our Canadian Olympians start with a vision. Something simple, not complicated, yet something inspiring. The Canadian Olympic committee chose Own The Podium as their slogan and with significant financial investment they succeeded.
On the Canadian soccer landscape there needs to be a dream. One comparable to the United States Soccer Federation's Project 2010, formalized in 1998. The blueprint objective's were to prepare the U.S. national team to be a legitimate contender to win the World Cup in 2010. Many would argue the U.S. will not win the World Cup this summer in South Africa, but fewer would contend they are not a legitimate soccer power in international football.
The project required an investment of $50-million. Similar with our Own the Podium vision which came with an investment of over $100-million.
While the Canadian Soccer Association have admirably prepared the Blueprint to Success and more recently the Wellness to the World Cup projects they were/are destined to fail without the matching financial investment and the belief of the public.
The belief from the soccer public comes from not just the lack of financial investment but also the clear and realistic map on how to address the two most significant ground level impediments for us succeeding at the World Cup level now and into the future. Development of soccer players with hockey mentalities and then the coaches to implement them.
Putting all the technical and tactical elements aside Canadian hockey players as displayed on Sunday are tough, strong, committed, durable, passionate, resilient, persistent, incredibly determined and selfless.
No disrespect to many of the national soccer players but when was the last time we displayed the same intangible qualities as a collective unit? It is interesting to take note of Toronto FC this past weekend in Florida. In the second game against New York for long periods there was a noticeable absence of Canadian players. Pointing fingers at the staff starting with Mo Johnston, if we are objective, has to be waned. Canadian players have come and gone at TFC by the bucket load and it's not because they were good enough.
The answer to the conundrum is not a simple one, but significant financial investment from the major stakeholders MLSE, Vancouver Whitecaps, Montreal Impact, the CSA and corporate Canada is a start. Although, they may lament they do enough already, which in many ways would be a fair comment.
Special to The Globe and Mail