Originally created as Own the Podium - 2010 to prepare Canadian athletes to reach medal finishes at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the program has since expanded to include a division for summer sports as well, known as Road to Excellence.

The COC's program was inspired by the USOC, which had previously regarded the Winter Olympics as the "Forgotten Games", but then changed strategies and improved sponsorship of winter sports, and this led the USA to great medal successes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics.

[2] The determination to boost Canada's performance came just months after Canada's 13 winter national sport federations, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Sport Canada, the Calgary Olympic Development Association (CODA), the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC), and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) met in Calgary in February 2004 to discuss their goals for the 2010 Games.

Based on the principles and framework developed at the meeting, the COC contracted an independent consultant to analyze the sport projections, provide recommendations on changes and resources required, and determine if the goals were achievable.

A subcommittee called the Own the Podium Steering Committee was then created to manage the implementation of the report's recommendations.

[citation needed] A 2006 survey indicated that almost 3 out of 4 Canadians approved of the goals set in the program, and that nearly 70% of them say it is important for Canada to be a top medal finisher in 2010.

While OTP focuses on winter sports, RTE's vision and strategy is for Canadian teams to improve their performance at the Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games in 2008 and 2012.

This body would be governed by a board made up of funding partners and winter sport federations representatives.

To achieve the goal of approximately 35 medals, the projected first-place finish in 2010, a 50% success rate for the potential medallists would be necessary.

This met the performance level set by the Canadian Paralympic Committee, of ending third in total medal count.

[9] Created in 2006, Road to Excellence (RTE) is designed to provide technical support and assistance to targeted athletes for future Olympic and Paralympic Games.