Olympic passion spurs record donation by Aspers

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This article was published 11/10/2018 (2563 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

David and Ruth Asper, along with their adult children Daniel, Rebecca and Max, will announce today they are making the largest donation to Olympic sport in Canada’s history: $2.5 million.

On Wednesday, Ruth Asper said the inspiration for the gift goes back to the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. Her father took her to the Games to watch gymnast Nadia Comaneci, boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and runner Bruce Jenner compete. At the time, she was in high school, and it became a life-changing event.

“We saw Nadia Comaneci: the scoreboard didn’t even have a 10 on it when she had the perfect score. And because my dad liked boxing, we saw Sugar Ray Leonard. I was a young kid, not knowing what direction I was going. This changed my focus.

“Being in that milieu, and seeing the determination of the athletes, regardless of where they placed in an event, inspired me to pursue physical education and sport science at university.”

She ended up working in the fitness industry.

The Aspers’ donation will go to the Canadian Olympic Foundation’s new 5to8 program, which helps Olympic athletes who are between five to eight years away from competing at the Games.

The federal government matches donations, meaning the Asper family’s $2.5-million donation jumps to $5 million.

“David and I have been supporting the Canadian team through a variety of campaigns through the years,” Ruth Asper said. “We just thought we would continue when approached on the 5to8 campaign, this time with the whole family… 

“For over 30 years, this has been my passion and I love the idea that our family’s support for the 5to8 campaign is as much about health, science and fitness as it is about winning Olympic medals.”

Pierce LePage, who competes for Canada in the decathlon, said in a statement that winning a silver medal at this year’s Commonwealth Games was a dream come true.

“My eyes are firmly set on Tokyo 2020 and, despite the financial burden, I am committed to my goal of representing Canada on the world’s greatest sporting stage. As a Next Generation athlete, I want to personally thank the Asper family for stepping up (and) showing such generous support for the Next Gen.”

In a statement, Paul McIntyre Royston, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation, thanked the Asper family for the donation, saying “they have helped to launch an initiative that will continue to help Canadian athletes become the best in the world for years to come.”

Asper said because of her own Olympic experience, she took her three children to see the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

“I saw the power of the Olympic spirit inspire our children,” she said.

“It was an emotionally powerful, next-gen moment, to introduce our children to the Olympics just as my father had introduced me to the Games in 1976. I am proud to have played a role in my family in helping nurture another generation of strong Olympic supporters.”

To donate, you can go to 5to8.ca.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca