Athlete Information

The Canadian National Biathlon Championship is considered to be an elite event, which brings together the best Biathlon athletes in the country. This race is used by Biathlon Canada, as part of their selection procedures for the National Team. It will also be used by Biathlon Ontario as one of the key selection criteria for Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) funding.
Biathlon Canada requires that each Division send only athletes that are competent to race at this level of competition. This infers that athletes who attend National Championships should meet a minimum standard of competency in order to qualify. Both Biathlon Canada and Biathlon Ontario consider the National Championships as an elite event and not an event of open participation. In an effort to comply with this philosophy, the Biathlon Ontario’s Athlete Development Committee (ADC) has created selection procedures that clearly identify a set of minimum standards that must be met for IBU class athletes to qualify for Nationals. These new standards are objective and easily measured. The ADC considers the Senior Boy/Girl categories athletes as a development level, and there are separate qualification procedure. Athletes who are selected to the National Team, National Team Development Squad, Jr/Youth National Team or CWG Team in that competition season are automatically pre-selected to the Ontario Team.

Biathlon Ontario Athlete Agreement & Code of Conduct

Quest for Gold

The Quest for Gold, an Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP) is funded by the Government of Ontario, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS), and operated through the Sport, Recreation & Community Programs Division. The overarching goal of the Quest for Gold is directly related to the High Performance Sport goal of the Canadian Sport Policy “that Canadians are systematically achieving world-class results at the highest levels of international competition”. Improving the performance and number of Ontario athletes performing at the national and international level, improves the level of performance of Canada at international competitions.

Specific objectives of the program are:

• To help athletes continue their pursuit of athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition;

• To encourage athletes to stay in Ontario to live and train;

• To compensate athletes for earnings lost while training;

• To enable athletes to successfully pursue excellence in sport while fulfilling their educational goals;

• To increase athlete access to improved high performance coaching; and

• To enhance training and competitive opportunities available to athletes.

The program provides direct financial assistance to Ontario junior-aged athletes through an “Ontario Card” designation. “Junior-aged athlete” as defined by the Ministry are those athletes who fall within the eligible age of 11-22 years for the Canada Games.

Provincial/Multi Sport Organizations (PSO/MSOs) are free to set age groupings that fit within the Ministry criteria based on existing sport specific age/discipline categories. A PSO/MSO with a NSO-approved Long Term Athlete Development Model (LTADM) that identifies older athletes in the “Train to Train” and “Train to Compete” categories may apply to MTCS for a variation to this 11-22 age range. A PSO/MSO may choose to allocate a maximum of 30% of its carding allotment to athletes older than 22 years of age who have been identified as a potential next generation national team athlete by the PSO/MSO’s selection process.

The intent of the OAAP is to provide funding to individual athletes based on their demonstrated commitment to high performance sport, allowing them to continue to pursue athletic excellence at the highest levels of national and international competition. Ideally an athlete will first receive a Quest for Gold “Ontario Card”, which will allow them to train towards the goal of a national team position in subsequent years. Once an Ontario athlete reaches the national level and becomes a recipient of Sport Canada’s carding program, they become eligible for the Quest for Gold “Canada Card”.

How does it work?

In accordance with the OAAP guidelines, Biathlon Ontario develops sport-specific selection criteria and forms a Selection Committee that will apply these criteria. The top-ranked athletes, based on the criteria, will be awarded Ontario Card status. The selection criteria is approved by the Board of Directors and reviewed by MTCS staff. Nominated athletes are required to sign and comply with an Athlete Agreement between the athlete and Biathlon Ontario. Carding status is valid for one year.

How will the BIATHLON ONTARIO Selection Committee decide who receives funding?

The BIATHLON ONTARIO has a Selection Committee that uses the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport Eligibility Criteria and the Sport Specific Selection Criteria to determine which athletes are nominated for Ontario Card status. All qualified athletes will automatically be considered by the selection committee.

For more information: Please contact VP Technical – at vptechnical@biathlonontario.ca for questions regarding OAAP funding program.

2024-2025 Documents:

• 2024-2025 Selection Criteria
• 2023-2024 Athlete Selection