For the first time in its nine-year history, the RBC Training Ground is coming to the Nickel City.
If you’ve never heard of it, the Training Ground is basically a talent search for the next generation of Olympians. A partnership between the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, and supported by the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification program to find future members of Team Canada.
For the first time, the program is coming to Greater Sudbury. It will be held March 17 at Laurentian University.
“At each qualifying event, participants from a wide range of sport backgrounds perform speed, strength, power, and endurance benchmark testing in front of National Sport Organizations (NSO) partners,” RBC Training Ground said in a news release. “Following the National Final later this year, where 100 hopefuls will compete, the top 30 athletes will be selected as RBC Future Olympians to receive funding, mentorship, and other resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.”
Athletes ages 14-25 can sign up in advance, though walk-ups are accepted. Each participant has all their measurements taken, as different sports look for different body types, and then they move through four test stations.
The test stations are: speed (40m sprint); power (vertical jump and six-second watt bike), strength (mid-thigh pull) and endurance (either a beep test or an assault bike).
Current Olympians from the RBC roster will be on hand as well. The data is analyzed and some athletes will be invited for further sport-specific testing. From there, the top 100 from all the Training Ground events go to the national final, from which 30 are selected to receive training funding to help them grow their skills.
The sports/sporting partners involved in the Training Ground are:
- Flag Football Canada;
- Squash Canada;
- Cycling Canada;
- Rugby Canada;
- Freestyle Canada;
- Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton;
- Canoe Kayak Canada;
- Climbing Escalade Canada;
- Freestyle Canada (aerials);
- Luge Canada;
- Rowing Canada;
- Rugby Canada;
- Speed Skating Canada;
- Squash Canada;
- Volleyball Canada, and;
- Wrestling Canada.
To register in advance click here.
