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Oakville players earn Jr. A awards SEE PAGE 36 SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 7,2006 35 Cherry's criticism of athletes doesn't fly with van Koeverden By Herb G a rb u tt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF There's one thing you can be sure Adam van Koeverden won't be doing this Saturday. And that's tuning in to watch Don Cherry. Unless of course, Cherry is ready to apol ogize to Canadian athletes. Since several athletes -- including Pierre Lueders, Clara Hughes, Cindy Klassen and Beckie Scott -- declined to carry the flag at the opening ceremonies of next month's Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, there's been a lot of opinions expressed about their lack of patriotism. In typical fashion, no opinion was louder than that of Cherry during his Coach's Corner segment on Hockey Night in Canada. "For these skiers and them to say they don't want to carry the flag because their per formance might be hurt (is) a disgrace -- you're a disgrace as far as I'm concerned," Cherry said. `You took jthe money from the country and you don't want to carry the flag." van Koeverden carried the Canadian flag at the closing ceremonies in Athens two years ago after winning gold and bronze medals in kayaking. And he believes Cherry was way out of line in attacking the athletes. "As a flag-bearer I can say, it is a tough job and I'm glad I got to do jt after my race. It takes its toll on your body," he said as he spoke at the Oakville Kiwanis Club Tuesday night. "I'm completely behind the athletes who decided not to carry the flag. We ulti mately go to the Olympics to compete, not to carry the flag. We carry the flag on our backs and in our hearts." van Koeverden said not carrying the flag or not attending the opening ceremonies should not bring an athlete' s patriotism into question. After failing to qualify for, the 2000 Games, van Koeverden stayed up until 4 a.m. watching the opening ceremonies in Sydney draped in a Canadian flag. He swore he would not miss the event again. Yet he was watching the opening ceremonies on TV from a training facility in France where he and his canoe/kayak teammates trained until the days leading up to their events in Athens. "We watched and my eyes welled up with tears because I just thought back to four years ago and I said I wasn't going to watch this on TV," he said. "I really wanted to go to the opening ceremonies, honestly. It wasn't my decision but in hindsight I'm glad I did n 't. It was just one of those tough decisions." Cherry brought up the issue of athletes receiving money and van Koeverden said he receives all the funding he needs. He also realizes there is a responsibility that goes with it -- just not necessarily carrying the country's flag. .He uses the two As to guide him -- accountability and allocation. "If you expect to get that much money from your government, what are you doing for it? Are you going into schools? Are you doing enough to influence children? Are you training as hard as "We carry the flag i you can with that on our backs and ! money or are you other things like replacing your car Olympic champion \ stereo every year?" Adam van Koeverden ' he said. "You've got to be account able to the government for the money you get in a social sense and you also have to think about how you're using that money to get faster because that's what it's there for." The Loyola grad said he's lucky to be in a position where he no longer has to seek out sponsors. That wasn't always the case. When he first made a national team eight years ago, he received $375 a month, which was n't enough to pay for groceries or rent. RON KUZYK I OAKVILLE BEAVER SHOW OF SUPPORT: Former Canadian Olympic flag-bearer Adam van Koeverden, with Oakville Kiwanis Club president elect Warrick Squires, says criticism of athletes who declined to carry the flag at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games is unfair. in our hearts." j ! dt u u mpi" g il i, n,t0 van Koeverden said he continues to get government off the hook completely. "I don't think any Canadian should be sponsorship offers, which he appreciates, complaining about sport funding but if you but he frequently declines them. "I often turn them down and tell them to want to complain about government sup support an athlete that is up and coming. port, that's another thing. They don't pay You know, go after someone th at you could our coaches and they don't build us facili help get to the podium, someone who is ties," he said, noting other sports have it 13th or 17th in the world who really, really worse. "We're one of the best speed skating nations in the world but there's still only needs it." That's what the Kiwanis Club did. To. two speed skating ovals. I just find that ridiculous. There's not enough opportunity thank van Koeverden for coming to speak to < them, they donated $2,000 to his home club, for kids to learn these sports." van Koeverden offered a final word on the Burloak Canoe Club, to help the padthe flag-carrying controversy. dlers of the future. ** `W ith races being won and lost by van Koeverden, who turns 24 Sunday, is tions of. a second, I think it was a also doing his part as a spokesman for the Ontario government's Quest for Gold lot sion on those athletes' part. They tery. The $20 scratch-and-win lottery gives concentrate on what they need to do. I you five tickets with a chance to win $ 1-mil think the symbolic carrying of the flag at lion. Available at all lottery retailers, it is opening ceremonies is necessarily the be all expected to raise $2.5-million for amateur and end all of the Olympic Games. I'm sure at the end of the day someone who is per athletes and coaches in Ontario. While van Koeverden is happy to see the fectly qualified to carry the flag, will." . Women's hockey player Danielle Goyette province helping out and appreciates his federal funding, he isn't willing to let the was named Canada's flag-bearer Thursday. WINTER SALE EQ3 Burlington ENDS SOON SAVE UP TO $300 ON OUR TOP SOFA STYLES Up to 40% OFF select floor models Up to 50% OFF select accessories Store Hours SALEMA sectional sofa SAVE UP TO $849. V now from $ 1 2 9 9 Other models also available at sale price. 1 2 2 0 Brant Street North Service Road west of Brant T 905 335 6077 Monday to Friday: 10am to 9pm Saturday: 9:30am to 6pm Sunday: noon to 5pm We reserve the right to limit quantities. Some restrictions apply. 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