RBC seeks Olympic and Paralympic athletes for community
ambassador program
RBC Olympians Program provides Olympians and Paralympians with funding, flexible work arrangements and opportunities to share their
Olympic stories with Canadians
TORONTO, July 6, 2005 —
RBC Financial Group today announced the national launch of
its RBC Olympians Program, which provides Canadian athletes
with funding and work experience to help them succeed both
in competition and life after sport.
"This unique program helps alleviate the real pressures
of juggling finances and training by providing athletes with
an income and the flexibility to structure their work around
their training and competition schedules," said Ann Louise
Vehovec, senior vice-president, Brand and Marketing Communications,
RBC Financial Group. "It also gives athletes the opportunity
to gather skills and experiences to help them find a career
after sport."
The athletes will act as community ambassadors, sharing their
past experiences and current Olympic dreams with schools,
community groups and RBC clients and employees. They will
also work to create awareness and support for amateur sport
in Canada and inspire the next generation to be physically
fit and participate in sports at any level.
"The RBC Olympians Program was an excellent opportunity
for me to gain valuable work, project management and leadership
experience, as well as discover where my interests lie for
life after swimming," said Mark Johnston, two-time Olympian
and 14-time National Champion. "I look forward to continuing
my career with RBC Financial Group this summer and putting
the skills I learned as an RBC Olympian to use."
In addition to their community outreach role, the athletes
will work in various departments within RBC gaining valuable
work experience to help prepare for their lives after competition.
Past participants include Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2003
World Champion - 100-metre hurdles; Mark Johnston, Swimming
two-time Olympian; Élaine Allard, Wheelchair Basketball,
Gold medallist - 2003 Para Pan- American Games; and Mike Scarola,
Sprint Canoe 2004 Olympian. Furthermore, upon retiring from
their respective sports, Johnston and Scarola went onto full-time
careers within RBC and all are currently employed in various
positions within the organization.
"The RBC Olympians Program is another fine example of
RBC's exceptional contribution to supporting amateur sport
in Canada," said Chris Rudge, chief executive officer,
Canadian Olympic Committee. "It is important for sports
sponsorships to be more holistic and go beyond merely supporting
athletes as they compete. We need programs in place to ensure
athletes can be successful in their lives after sport - the
RBC Olympians Program helps make this happen."
RBC is seeking a number of carded national team athletes
or former Olympians and Paralympians for a variety of positions
in main urban centres across Canada for a contract term of
12 months beginning in late August 2005. More information
on the RBC Olympians Program can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.
RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
RBC Financial Group (RBC) sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots
events in local communities to national sport associations
that support the development of amateur athletes who compete
at home and abroad. As the longest-standing supporter of Canada's
Olympic Team, since 1947, RBC continues this sponsorship to
include the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian
Snowboard Team, Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic
Committee.
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For more information or for an interview with a past member
of the RBC Olympians Program, please contact:
Jackie Braden, RBC media relations, 416-974-2124
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