We are excited to share that Squash Ontario has been chosen as one of three sports to partner with the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) in their Project Sport Initiative (PSI). The two other sports being Triathlon and Sport Climbing.
The LA2028 Olympic inclusion news means that funding and high performance support has opened up around the globe for squash. With our involvement with the PSI, we receive funding toward further developing our high performance programming, with the objective of increasing readiness to apply for CSIO’s Ontario High Performance Sport Initiative (OHPSI) program in a future intake year.
“Squash Ontario is ecstatic about our brand new partnership with CSIO. Our sport will be included in the Olympics for the first time ever in 2028. We are working with CSIO to add foundational practices and expertise to our newly launched National Training Centre in Ontario which will carry our athletes and coaches forward into the LA2028 Olympic cycle. The global squash community will be waiting in anticipation for LA 2028. We are entering our “Olympic era” and are thankful to have CSIO’s expertise and guidance through the PSI program.” - Lynsey Yates, Squash Ontario Executive Director
From the CSIO:
Launched in 2021 through the support of Ontario’s Ministry of Sport, PSI supports project-based, Provincial Sport Organization-led initiatives in the areas of talent identification and performance tracking, supportive performance environments and deliberate training and competition preparation.
PSI sports that are able to successfully apply key program objectives and learnings through their work with CSIO will strengthen their ability to apply for the OHPSI program, all while developing their high performance programming and supporting athletes and coaches through the advancement of their sport.
OHPSI’s primary objective is to identify and support Ontario athletes who are best capable of achieving future international success on senior national teams in targeted winter and summer Olympic/Paralympic and Pan/Para Pan Am Games sports.
Since OHPSI’s inception in 2010, more than 5,000 Ontario athletes have been supported through sport science and sport medicine, daily training environment access, camps and competition support, and coaching and technical leadership, contributing to 62 Olympic and 38 Paralympic athletes bringing home medals for Team Canada across 6 sets of Games.
CSIO is thrilled to have Triathlon, Squash, and Sport Climbing in this cohort of the Project Sport Initiative. With Sport Climbing as a newer addition to the Olympic programme and Squash set to debut at LA 2028, we are excited to work with these sports to further evolve their high performance programming in Ontario. Triathlon, which has been part of the PSI program previously, we look to further support their high performance programming as they refine their planning and tools to succeed. CSIO looks forward to supporting all three PSOs in their work to elevate people and performances.
ABOUT CANADIAN SPORT INSTITUTE ONTARIO:
Canadian Sport Institute Ontario (CSIO) is a non-profit organization committed to the pursuit of excellence by providing best-in-class programs, services, and leadership to high performance athletes, coaches, and National and Provincial Sport Organizations to enhance their ability to achieve international podium performances. Our team of expert staff deliver sport science, sport medicine, life services, and coaching and technical leadership support to help Canada win medals and strengthen the sport system in Ontario and Canada. CSIO is part of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, working in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, and the Coaching Association of Canada. CSIO is further supported by funding partners such as the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Sport and Sport Canada. www.csiontario.ca