(Reuters) - Calgary has yet to decide if it will submit a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics but Canada is already gearing up for a medal push by launching the 5to8 programme on Thursday which will fund athletes who are between five to eight years from competing.

The programme was kick started by a 2.5 million Canadian dollars (£1.5 million) donation, the largest to Olympic sport in Canadian history, from businessman and philanthropist David Asper and his wife Ruth.