The Yukon Government dolled out much-needed grant money toward sport and recreation on Wednesday.

Cross Country Yukon head coach Alain Masson and Yukon Amateur Hockey Association president Walter Brennan agreed the money is best spent with grassroots-level athletes in mind.

The territorial government awarded $920,370 in sport and recreation grants, community services minister Archie Lang announced yesterday.

Twenty-six Yukon sport governing bodies will receive $519,670 and seven Yukon special recreation groups will receive $182,700.

Sport Yukon will receive $120,000 to support its core operations and program delivery.

Individual awards for the additional $98,000 allocated to High Performance Athletes and Officials programs will be announced on Tuesday.

Each year, the Yukon Recreation Advisory Committee (YRAC) reviews funding application from Yukon organizations.

Cross Country Yukon (CCY) will receive the highest sum of the Yukon sport governing bodies with $90,000, followed by $89,000 given to the Yukon Soccer Association.

Masson said that amount is similar to what Cross Country Yukon received last year.

Part of the reason the group is so well funded is because of the results skiers get Outside, he added.

"It's kind of a mutual relationship: we get good results and we get good funding; we get good funding and we continue getting good results.”

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

"We've had a quality program for a long, long time, but in order to maintain these programs we need continuous funding, so it's hard to tell which one comes first. But definitely to be successful at the elite level you need good funding,” Masson replied.

The YRAC grants cover three categories of funding, he explained.

One is athlete development: supporting athletes through training camps, clinics, workshops and Outside races.

The second is leadership development: training and certifying coaches and officials for running the programs.

The third is administration.

"It will cover anything from entry level to elite skiers, and coaches from Jack Rabbits all the way to the more elite coaches. It's for everybody,” Masson said.

"It'd be very difficult to come up with that kind of money through either fund-raising or sponsorships or a mix of other options.”

Brennan agreed.

The YAHA will receive $69,000.

Like CCY, the grant will help provide clinics for coaches and referees, which includes bringing top-level coaches in from Outside.

Brennan pointed to the goalie clinics that run in Whitehorse throughout the season as an example.

"The money that we get from YRAC allows us to subsidize part of that, not the whole thing, and then it allows us to develop our own coaches as well.”

While a portion of the funds will go toward traveling teams, Brennan noted the importance of supporting the local program first.

"For example, it certainly helps us with our girls program and it helps us run our Yukon Championships – most we try to do in the communities, for example, out to Watson Lake or Teslin or to Haines Junction.

"There's only so much money to go around. We have many sport governing bodies that are looking for money, and we are very happy with money that we get from YRAC. We know that they anguish to try to meet everybody's expectations.”

Funding for the annual YRAC grants is made possible by a revenue sharing agreement between the Yukon Lottery Commission and the Government of Yukon.

The grants are adjudicated by the YRAC and administered by Community Services.

"This annual funding provides vital support to sport and recreation programs and services for our youth, families and Yukon residents of all ages,” Lang said.

"We recognize the importance of active living for building healthy and sustainable communities.”

Added YRAC chair Ron McFadyen:

"I'm amazed at the opportunities these groups provide and the number of Yukon people participating in sport and recreation in the territory.”

For a complete list of the grants awarded, visit Sport and Recreation online at www.community.gov.yk.ca.