Posted: August 10, 2004

Olympics: RBC putting Canadian athletes on track for the Olympic Games...and for the future

RBC Olympians Program funds training, coaching, life after sport for Canadian athletes

TORONTO, Aug. 10 /CNW/ - Building on a 57-year history of supporting amateur athletes in Canada, RBC Financial Group is proud to recognize 19 outstanding Canadian athletes as RBC Olympians. The RBC Olympians program is a national initiative that provides athletes with much needed funding and work experience that is structured around their training and competition schedules. RBC has hired 19 current and retired Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes as part of the program to act as community ambassadors, sharing their Olympic experiences and current aspirations with schools and community groups, as well as with RBC clients and employees. The RBC Olympians also help to create awareness and support for amateur athletics, inspiring Canadians to be fit and participate in sports at all levels.

Among the team of RBC Olympians from across Canada are Perdita Felicien (athletics) and Simon Whitfield (triathlon) who are using the funds they earn to help offset their competition and training costs. Retired athletes like Veronica Brenner (freestyle skiing) and Dianne Norman (basketball) learn skills to help them transition and thrive in their post-competition careers.

"It means a lot to me to be an RBC Olympian. After years of being focused solely on sport, RBC has given me the chance to develop the work skills I need to be successful in my new life off the ski hill," said Veronica Brenner, 2002 Olympic Silver medallist.

"Amateur athletes often face financial challenges as they try to realize their goal of representing Canada on the world stage. They have bills like everyone else, but it can be difficult to fit a job into their training schedules," said Ann Louise Vehovec, senior vice-president, RBC Financial Group. "We've put athletes first with this program by providing them with both funding and the flexibility they need for training and competition. They also have the opportunity to develop new skills that help them in the next stage of their lives."

The RBC Olympians program was developed in conjunction with the Canadian Olympic Committee, and is part of RBC's overall sponsorship of amateur sport in Canada, including support of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Hockey Canada, Athletics Canada, Freestyle Ski Association, and the Canadian Snowboard Federation.

"The RBC Olympians Program is another great example of RBC's exceptional contribution to supporting amateur sport in Canada," said Chris Rudge, chief executive officer, Canadian Olympic Committee. "Sports sponsorships need to be more holistic and go beyond merely supporting athletes as they compete. There have to be programs in place to ensure athletes can be successful in their lives after sport -- the RBC Olympians program helps make this happen."

The list of current RBC Olympians includes;

    B.C.
    -   Kamini Jain, Sprint Kayak, 2000 Olympian, Athens medal hopeful
    -   Mark Johnston, Swimming, 2000 Olympian, 14-time National Champion,
        Athens medal hopeful
    -   Margaret Langford, Slalom Kayak, three-time Olympian, nine-time
        Canadian Champion, Athens medal hopeful
    -   Daniel Wesley, Paralympic Alpine Skiing, 12-time Paralympic
        Medallist, five-time Paralympian
    -   Georgina Wheatcroft, Curling Bronze Medallist - 2002 Olympic Games,
        two-time World & Canadian Champion
    -   Simon Whitfield, Triathlon, Gold Medallist - 2000 Olympic Games,
        Athens medal hopeful

    Prairies
    -   Kelly Béchard, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2002 Olympic Winter Games
    -   Earle Connor, Paralympic Athletics, Gold Medallist 100m, Silver
        Medallist 200m -- 2000 Paralympic Games, Athens medal hopeful

    Ontario
    -   Veronica Brenner, Freestyle Skiing Silver Medallist -- 2002 Olympic
        Winter Games, Retired
    -   John Child, Beach Volleyball, Bronze Medallist -- 1996 Olympic Games,
        two-time Olympian, Athens medal hopeful
    -   Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2003 World Champion -- 100-metre
        hurdles, Athens medal hopeful
    -   Mark Heese, Beach Volleyball, Bronze Medallist -- 1996 Olympic Games,
        two-time Olympian, Athens medal hopeful
    -   George Karrys, Curling, Silver Medallist -- 1998 Olympic Winter Games

    Quebec
    -   Elaine Allard, Wheelchair Basketball, Gold Medallist -- 2003 Para
        Pan-American Games, Aspiring Olympian
    -   Emilie Heymans, Diving, Silver Medallist (10m Synchro) -- 2000
        Olympic Games, Athens medal hopeful
    -   Hélène Simard, Wheelchair Tennis, 2000 Paralympian, Gold Medallist --
        1992 Paralympic Games (Wheelchair Basketball), Athens medal hopeful

    Atlantic
    -   Karen Furneaux, Sprint Kayak, 2000 Olympian, 2001 World Champion,
        Athens medal hopeful
    -   Dianne Norman, Basketball, two-time Olympian, Retired
    -   Mike Scarola, Sprint Canoe, Bronze Medallist -- 2002 World
        Championships, Athens medal hopeful

More information on the RBC Olympians and RBC's other sports sponsorships can be found at www.rbc.com.

RBC AND AMATEUR ATHLETICS
RBC Financial Group (RBC) sponsors amateur sport, from grass roots events in communities across the country, to Canadian sport associations that help develop amateur athletes and make it possible for them to compete at home and abroad. RBC has sponsored the Canadian Olympic Committee since 1947, making it Canada's longest-standing supporter of Canada's Olympic Team.