Every four years, and in true Canadian form, a medal drought at the summer Olympics brings immediate howls for government to spend other people's money to fix the so-called problem. The more recent - and indeed welcome - growth in Canada's medal count should douse that demand. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the current level of taxpayer support is more than adequate, although in many instances misdirected.

Canada's medal count is often compared to Australia's and yes it's true, Australia is winning more medals in Beijing than Canada. Australia also won more medals than Canada in Summer Olympics in Athens in 2004 and Sidney in 2000. Could it be because Australia spends more tax dollars?

Probably not. Canada won more medals than Australia in the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2002 and in Turin in 2006.

The point is, there are many factors other than tax dollars - including climate and cultural differences - that contribute to a country's performance at international events. No matter how much the Australian government spends, it's doubtful they could ever beat us in hockey.

Here's another factor to consider: Like Australia, Canada has a relatively small population. A review of the top-10 medal-earning nations compiled on a per-capita basis - as of Tuesday - would place Canada fifth, well ahead of both the United States and China.

And speaking of the two Olympic super powers, it's worth noting that although both countries are almost even in medal count, China's athletes rely almost exclusively on state-sponsorship while U.S. athletes do not receive a penny from their federal government, depending entirely on volunteers, private sponsors and fundraising.

As two-time Canadian Olympic medalist Simon Whitfield puts it: "It's not a matter of throwing more money at it. That's a stupid solution. An extra $300 or $500 a month is not going to turn anyone into an Olympic medalist … You need to build the infrastructure of sport in Canada from the grassroots up. We need to have Olympians out in the schools talking to kids. We need to be out talking to corporate sponsors to better fund Canadian amateur sport."

The government of Canada will pour $166-million into high performance athletics in 2008 (nearly three times what was spent the year before Sydney), making taxpayers the largest contributor to sports funding in Canada. And that does not include dollars spent by provincial governments. One of the programs the federal government funds is called the "Athlete Assistance Program." The $27-million dedicated to that program for 2008 pays a stipend directly to athletes who place, or have the potential to place, in the top-16 in the world in their sport.

Yet this is chump change compared to what governments spend in areas surrounding amateur sport.

International sporting events have become overboard exercises in hyper-jingoism - justifying travel and extravagance having nothing to do with the spirit and intent of amateur sport and international competition.

Take the City of Richmond, B.C., site of the 2010 Olympic speed skating oval. Richmond taxpayers spent $459,897 to send city councilors on 16 trips to Italy, Norway, Salt Lake City and Calgary to "study" speed skating ovals. Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie is in Beijing now, with three helpers, at a cost of about $53,000, promoting an oval that will not even be used for speed skating after the 2010 Olympics.

Or consider the Vancouver Olympic Committee's employee "bonus fund" of $44.5-million - that dwarfs the entire Athletic Assistance Program. Then there's a recent tender by Public Works Canada for hotel rooms in Vancouver to conduct "horizontal coordination" of 31 federal ministries for a three-and-a-half-month period surrounding the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Could some of this money be better spent? Most of our podium finishers in Beijing living on a stipend of $18,000 a year would probably say yes.

But while government wastes millions and even billions we must look at ourselves in the mirror. Whitfield is right. Amateur sport has to be supported by individuals in the community. How many of us volunteer our time or money at local events and activities? Far too few.

Considering our nation's size, climate and resources - at least those resources that actually make it to athletes and coaches - we do well in the Summer Olympics.

Maureen Bader, BC Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation
Troy Lanigan, National Communications Director, Canadian Taxpayers Federation