Development of Tennis in Canada
A child obesity epidemic is flourishing in Canada. Between 1978 and 2004 there was an increase of overweight children from twelve to eighteen percent of the population and even more shocking, obese children increased from three to eight percent. One in four Canadian children is overweight and obese. Increased reliance on television, video games and computer technology as pastimes for children and the diminishing priority of physical education in Canadian schools are cited by experts as the major reasons for the growing numbers of sedentary children and teenagers. Tying together the need for proper diet and physical activity, Tennis Canada, founded in 1890, and the Dairy Farmers of Canada have instituted a multi-year partnership to promote a national public service campaign entitled Everyday Champions. The dairy farmers of Canada is sponsoring, along with Tennis Canada and provincial tennis associations, fifteen events in western Canada, thirty in the Ontario region and twenty-one in Quebec and the maritime provinces. The “everyday champion” program will single out volunteers, parents of players, and the players as people who promote good eating habits and a healthy lifestyle, with the main source of exercise being tennis.
The alignment with the Dairy Farmers is just one part of the program which Tennis Canada has sponsored recently. Its mission is to promote the sport throughout Canada and build a system that produces world-class players. There has been an increase of investment in tennis from 3.5 million dollars in 2004 to 9 million dollars today. It is universally recognized by nations successful in promoting tennis champions, that national tennis centres are necessary for success. To this end the board of Tennis Canada, led by Tony Eames and Michael Downey, have directed funds towards three major components. A full-time live-in centre for juniors aged thirteen to eighteen has been created in Montreal and scheduled to open in September 2008. This facility features twelve indoor courts and on-cite physiotherapy and a pro shop. The goal is to consistently produce players who rank in the top fifty in the world. Three full-time coaches will be assigned to train and travel with the participants. To achieve these ends, Louis Borfigia of the French tennis federation, was appointed as vice-president, high performance athlete development in August . The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has applauded this move and wishes that other national federations would become more involved in the development of the game in their countries. Bob Brett, an internationally renowned coach, has also been hired. He spent eight years touring with Boris Becker and Goran Ivanisevic, coaching both to multiple grand slam titles. He is in charge of the under-12 and the 13-14 year old Canadian touring teams. He will be taking up to five international tours per year.
Tennis Canada looks to improve over the momentum gained in 2006. Frank Dancevic from Niagara Falls, now ranked 82nd in the world, has triumphed over Andy Roddick who was in the top ten. Aleksandra Wozniak from Blainville, Quebec and ranked 91st in the world has just won two rounds in the French Open over seeded players. Sharon Fichman from Toronto, won two junior grand slam titles at the Australian and French Open while finishing the season, ranked 5th in the world among junior women. Phillip Bester from North Vancouver and Peter Polansky from Thornhill, reached the finals of the French and U.S. junior open. Gabriella Dabrowsky from Ottawa and Ed Nguyen from Niagara Falls, both captured the under-14 world championship in Torbes, France playing in a tournament called “ Le Petit As” Recently Daniel Nestor became the first Canadian to win a Wimbledon title. He along with Nenad Zimonijc won the men`s doubles. Progress is being made.
Beginning July 21 at the Rexall Centre in Toronto all the worlds best men will compete along with the ranked Canadians.
Spending money can help produce tennis champions but a healthy fit population provides the foundation that Tennis Canada can work with.
