| Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| IOC code | CAN |
| NOC | Canadian Olympic Committee |
| Website | www |
| in Beijing | |
| Competitors | 332[1] in 25 sports |
| Flag bearers | Adam van Koeverden (opening)[1] Karen Cockburn (closing) |
| Medals Ranked 19th |
|
| Summer Olympics appearances (overview) | |
| Other related appearances | |
| 1906 Intercalated Games | |
Canada, represented by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, from August 8 to 24, 2008. Canadian athletes had competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1900 with the exception of 1980, which were boycotted in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Canada sent 332 athletes in 25 sports, the seventh largest team at the games and Canada's largest since 1988.[2] Canada did not send a team in handball, volleyball or basketball.[3] Kayaker and 2004 Summer Olympics gold medalist Adam van Koeverden was the flag bearer at the opening ceremonies; Karen Cockburn bore the flag at the closing.[1][4]
The COC had set a goal of finishing in the top 16 in total medals;[5] at the 2004 Summer Olympics, Canada finished 19th. Despite failing to win a single medal in the first week of the Games, Canada would rebound, winning a combined 18 medals in the next 9 days. This 9-day medal haul exceeded the 12 medals Canada won in Athens four years earlier. The country would wind up finishing 19th in gold medals and 14th in total medals in Beijing.[6] Equestrian show jumper Ian Millar competed at his ninth Summer Olympics, tying the record set by Hubert Raudaschl. He has been named to ten straight Olympic teams, but did not compete at the 1980 Summer Olympics due to the Canadian boycott.[7] For the first time, Canadian athletes were paid for medals earned. Gold medalists earned $20,000; silver medalists were paid $15,000; and bronze medalists $10,000. A total of $515,000 from the Athlete Excellence Fund was given to the medal winning athletes.[8]
Canada was the next host country of an Olympics, with Vancouver hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.
- ^ a b c "van Koeverden Named Canada's Flag Bearer". The Sports Network. 2008-07-23. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ "Canada heads to Games with brash new strategy: Winning". Vancouver Sun. Canadian Press. 2008-08-13. Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- ^ "Olympic handball groupings named". CBC Sports. 2008-06-17. Archived from the original on 2012-07-21. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ^ "Karen Cockburn named Canada's closing flag-bearer". Archived from the original on 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ "Modest Gains Expected for Canada in Beijing". The Sports Network. The Canadian Press. 2008-07-30. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2008-07-30.
- ^ "CBC Olympics – Medals". CBC News. Archived from the original on 2008-08-23. Retrieved 2008-08-24.
- ^ Martin Cleary (2008-08-08). "'The Olympics is not a young horse game'". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ "COC rewards Canadian medal winners from Beijing". Toronto: The Sports Network. The Canadian Press. 2008-10-11. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2008-10-24.