CSN has received documentation that confirms that the women’s national team was budgeted $550,000 more than the men’s team for 2010.
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In total, the CSA was directly budgeted to contribute $1,653,000 to the women’s program last year, versus $1,099,000 for the men.
The gap grows when you factor in youth teams. With the caveat that 2010 was a World Cup year for girl’s youth teams, total spending on women and girl’s programs was budgeted at $2,653,000 in 2010. The boys, who were in an off year, and men were budgeted $1,611,000 for the year.
You can see the full breakdown here.
CSA officials confirm that the total 2011 budget for the women’s senior team is $3.1 million. That figure includes $1.425 million from the Own The Podium program. There is a proposal under review that could increase the women’s budget by as much as $500,000. There is also a possibility that more of the near $300,000 that FIFA provided for making the World Cup will be added to the team’s budget. If the full amount is forwarded, and the $500,000 injection is approved, the Canadian budget would be in line with the estimated $4 million that the US women’s team is thought to receive.
The men will receive $2.5 million in total in 2011, a figure that includes both the direct funding from the CSA as well as sponsorship money, ticket sales and appearance fees.
It was stressed by several people that the numbers alone don’t tell the full story. However, what is suggested is a federation committed to equality in funding between the men’s and women’s programs.