2012 Women's Olympic qualifying tournament awarded to Canada

[the biologist]

Don't know if it was posted before...

CONCACAF to seek change in World Cup qualifying

"The Executive Committee also awarded the 2012 Women's Olympic qualifying tournament to Canada".

I told you that Warner dude was no that bad...

[Sam]

Montopoli mentioned this when he talked in Kingston in February. Great news for Canada though

[KAS]

This is fantastic news! Hopefully, this will give the team enough of an advantage to ensure qualification for the Olympics.

The players have been carded for some time, but the extra "Own The Podium" money is really going to help. The catch, though, is that the money will dry up if they don't qualify.

The 2011 WWC and the 2012 Olympics will be huge for Women's soccer and should help to solidify the move towards professionalization. Germany already has a pro league, while England will soon establish a professional league. The exposure of these events will help the leagues, but it is also important for Canadian players to be there and impress enough to get offers of pro contracts.

Next step: Vancouver and Toronto in WPS!

[Vic]

Olympic qualification is becoming a coin flip and home support is a very big win.

The talent band may be wider but there are professionalized leagues in many other countries (Sweden, Australia, Norway, France, North Korea, Brazil, etc).

Yes, Vancouver and Toronto and don't forget Montreal. We know Vancouver has a plan. But don't hold your breath on Toronto and Montreal. We have ownership groups in Ottawa, Hamilton, Quebec City, London, Hamilton and Laval all contributing more to Canadian women's soccer, without stuffing tens of millions of our tax revenue in their pockets. They are the "Major League" women's organizations. TFC and the Impact do not support women's soccer.

[The Ref]

This is fantastic news! Hopefully, this will give the team enough of an advantage to ensure qualification for the Olympics.

The players have been carded for some time, but the extra "Own The Podium" money is really going to help. The catch, though, is that the money will dry up if they don't qualify.

The 2011 WWC and the 2012 Olympics will be huge for Women's soccer and should help to solidify the move towards professionalization. Germany already has a pro league, while England will soon establish a professional league. The exposure of these events will help the leagues, but it is also important for Canadian players to be there and impress enough to get offers of pro contracts.

Next step: Vancouver and Toronto in WPS!

Out of curiosity do you have any information as to how much do the "professional" women players get paid in the so called pro leagues. I guess it varies greatly between countries, but for reference I would be interested in the ones you mentioned, Germany, England.

[Vic]

Ref my German is tragic and I've always stumbled while trying to find out Frauen Bundesliga contracts. Perhaps Ed can help.

The English women's super league caps teams at five contracts over $30K, but the league pools funds it receives from the FA and gives per-club annual payments for things like marquis players, young stars, coaches, managers, facilities, etc. It's a pretty well executed plan for a startup league:

National Womens League Intro

Other countries often pay top dollar too. Marta was well-compensated in the Damallsvenskan and Lotta Schelin is rumoured to be receiving 160K in France.

[Jeremy]

Any ideas on where the games will be played?

[Trillium]

Olympic qualification is becoming a coin flip and home support is a very big win.

The talent band may be wider but there are professionalized leagues in many other countries (Sweden, Australia, Norway, France, North Korea, Brazil, etc).

Yes, Vancouver and Toronto and don't forget Montreal. We know Vancouver has a plan. But don't hold your breath on Toronto and Montreal. We have ownership groups in Ottawa, Hamilton, Quebec City, London, Hamilton and Laval all contributing more to Canadian women's soccer, without stuffing tens of millions of our tax revenue in their pockets. They are the "Major League" women's organizations. TFC and the Impact do not support women's soccer.

Geez Vic right on.... of course the fact Mo comes from Scotland might have lot to do with the lack of a women's academy program .... that the Ontario Teachers Pension plan allows it to go on is embarassing .. perhaps some retired teacher will ask why the hell Mo wont develop a womens pro team with the pensioners investment money and make them a profit.

There are a number of ex national team players in the coaching game today who could coach, a pro team .... at least start a female academy.

Challenges forMo of course he would be challenged assessing female talent... sarcasm intended.