RBC seeks Canadian Olympic and Paralympic athletes for its
community ambassador program
Program provides funding, flexible work arrangements and
opportunities to share experiences with Canadians
TORONTO, June 6, 2008 — RBC today announced
its annual search for national team athletes or retired Olympians
and Paralympians to be a part of the RBC Olympians Program,
which provides Canadian athletes with funding and valuable
work experience to help them succeed both in competition and
life after sport.
"The RBC Olympian Program understands the financial
and training pressures facing athletes today," said Jeff
Bean, RBC Olympian. "It provides a flexible work schedule,
funding and the opportunity to share our passion and Olympic
experiences with people across the country while gaining essential
skills and training for a career after sport. I look forward
to putting the skills learned as an RBC Olympian to use as
I enter the next stage of my life."
RBC is seeking a number of carded national team athletes
or retired Olympians and Paralympians to apply for the RBC
Olympians Program, in main urban centres across Canada for
a one-year contract term beginning in September 2008. The
deadline for applications is July 18, 2008. More information
on the RBC Olympians Program can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.
The athletes will act as community ambassadors, sharing their
past experiences and Olympic dreams with schools, community
groups, RBC clients and employees. They 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.
Committed to supporting amateur sport in Canada from grassroots
to elite-level athletes, RBC has had over 50 Olympic and Paralympic
athletes participate in the program since its inception in
2002. Some of the athletes who have participated include:
Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming, 2004 gold medalist; Crispin
Lipscomb, Snowboarding, 2006 Olympian; David Kikuchi, Gymnastics,
2004 Olympian; Jeff Bean, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian;
Lisa Blackburn, Swimming, Olympic hopeful; and Perdita Felicien,
Athletics, 2004 Olympian.
"The RBC Olympians Program provides Canada's athletes
with key financial support to help them in their quest to
reach the podium while also providing an excellent opportunity
to gain valuable work experience as they prepare for a career
after sport," said Chris Rudge, chief executive officer,
Canadian Olympic Committee. "As Canada's longest standing
corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, RBC continues
to put athletes first though initiatives such as the RBC Olympians
Program."
RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
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, the Canadian Freestyle Ski 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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