VANCOUVER - He lit the spirit of the Olympics underneath all of Canada and now John Furlong's next step may be keeping that flame burning.
The Canadian Press has learned Furlong is expected to take over leadership of the Own The Podium program responsible for Canadian athletes walking away with a record gold-medal haul at the 2010 Games.
Furlong is expected to be named chairman of a new board being put together to build on the success of OTP and help guide the future of sport in Canada.
The program is currently overseen by a strategic advisory committee made up of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic officials as well as a representative from the 2010 organizing committee and the federal government.
The composition of the board has not been finalized but a report last year suggested it not include anyone who is the beneficiary of its funding.
A formal announcement on the future of the program is expected in May and follows the appointment in April of former Olympic swimmer Alex Baumann as its new chief executive officer.
