Canadians can apply to become Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearers
through Coca-Cola and RBC
Coca-Cola and RBC to deliver programs to build healthier
individuals and create a better Canada
Vancouver, BC, November 21, 2008 — Canadians
who commit to live more active, environmentally friendly lives
or who are inspired to create a better Canada could win a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame
through 2010 Olympic Torchbearer programs run by Coca-Cola
and RBC. The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will begin its national
journey towards the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games on
October 30, 2009. Canadians interested in becoming one of
the lucky 12,000 torchbearers will have several opportunities
to apply beginning today at rbc.com/carrythetorch
and icoke.ca.
"Running with the Olympic Torch in your hand and the
Olympic Spirit in your heart is a feeling like no other,"
said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer, Vancouver Organizing
Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
(VANOC). "Torchbearers from all corners of Canada and
all walks of life will unite the country in the lead up to
the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Together with our
partners Coca-Cola and RBC, we invite all Canadians to participate
- either through applying to be a torchbearer or by joining
the celebration as the relay crosses this great country."
Coca-Cola and RBC, the relay's presenting partners, have
made significant contributions that enable the torch relay
to make its journey around Canada. Holding the exclusive rights
for the public Olympic Torchbearer application programs, they
have developed nation-building initiatives that give Canadians
a chance to become a torchbearer:
Coca-Cola Torchbearer Program
Coca-Cola will encourage Canadians to "Live Olympic on
the Coke Side of Life" by selecting torchbearers who
demonstrate a commitment to embodying the spirit of the Olympic
Games and taking positive action around living actively, protecting
the environment and the creation of a more positive reality.
"Coca-Cola will encourage Canadians to "Live Olympic
on the Coke Side of Life" by selecting torchbearers who
demonstrate a commitment to active living and sustainability.
Simply put, our motto will be live active, live green,"
said Nicola Kettlitz, General Manager, Coca-Cola Olympic Project
Team. "Coca-Cola hopes to inspire people to take positive
action and make a difference in their communities by demonstrating
our commitment to active living and sustainability - and recognizing
those who are dedicated to pursuing positive change in these
two areas."
Examples of how the public can "Live Olympic:"
Sogo Active (youth ages 13-19): Sogo Active aims to
harness the excitement of the Olympic Flame by igniting a
passion for physical activity among Canadian youth. The program
is unlike any other youth fitness initiative as it gives young
Canadians the tools to design, change and control their own
individual get active plan. The program is a Coca-Cola initiative,
executed by ParticipACTION, through intensive consultation
with leading Canadian physical activity experts, teenagers
and a broad network of provincial, territorial, Aboriginal
and community-based organizations. Sogo Active is a $5 million,
five-year initiative.
Coca-Cola will award torchbearer spots to teenagers who join
Sogo Active and demonstrate a commitment to adopting an active
lifestyle. For more information, visit sogoactive.com
icoke.ca (all Canadians over 13-years-old): Canadians
who demonstrate, through active living and environmental sustainability,
that they have made a commitment to the Olympic values of
excellence, fairness, respect, personal growth, leadership
and peace.
Coca-Cola will also reward Canadians who are setting examples
in their communities in areas such as water conservation,
recycling and energy conservation - efforts that mirror what
Coca-Cola seeks to do in its business, as part of its goal
to support sustainable communities wherever the company does
business. For more information, visit icoke.ca.
RBC Torchbearer Program
RBC is inviting all Canadians to "Help Create a better
Canada" by simply sharing, online, their personal pledge
to do something small or large in their daily lives that will
make Canada an even better place to live. Canadians who make
their pledge online at rbc.com/carrythetorch will automatically
have a chance to become a 2010 Olympic Torchbearer.
Whether it's a pledge to volunteer at the local rink, help
out at a food bank, drive less often to work or clean up a
nearby river bank, making a pledge at rbc.com/carrythetorch
allows Canadians to nominate themselves for a chance to carry
the Olympic Torch.
More than 55,000 employees, 1,200 branches and offices across
Canada will help bring the Olympic Spirit to every community.
"RBC is proud to bring the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay to
millions of people in hundreds of communities across the country,"
said Jim Little, RBC Chief Brand and Communications Officer.
"By asking Canadians to create a better Canada, we will
harness the energy of the Olympic Games to become a powerful
legacy and positively influence the lives of all Canadians."
About the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
Olympic Torchbearers will run in over 1,000 communities and
places of interest. To ensure the Olympic Flame is shared
with as many Canadians as possible, and to reach the greatest
number of communities, the torch relay will run in populated
centres and communities, and will be transported in between
communities.
Additional details about the Olympic Torchbearer programs
will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, interested
individuals can find additional information at icoke.ca
and rbc.com/carrythetorch.
Extensive additional torch relay media materials, including
maps, videos, audio files and backgrounders are available
in the media centre at www.vancouver2010.com.
- 2010 -
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing
and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic
Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be
staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010.
Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games
from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com for
further details on programs and schedules.
Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement
The Coca-Cola Company has been associated with the Olympic
Games since 1928 and is the longest continuous corporate supporter
of the Olympic Movement. Through the Olympic Games, Coca-Cola
encourages people to create their own path of "positivity"
in everyday life by believing that anything is possible. The
Company's sponsorship supports National Olympic Committees
in more than 200 countries to help athletes train and compete.
The Coca-Cola Company is the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage
provider to the Olympic Games through 2020. For information
on Coca-Cola's Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torchbearer programs
go to www.icoke.ca or www.sogoactive.com.
RBC and Amateur Sport
As part of our commitment to helping create a better Canada,
RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local
communities to national sport associations that support the
development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad.
Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic
Team since 1947, RBC continues its sponsorship through the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and is
proud to bring the Olympic Spirit to communities across Canada
as co-presenting sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch
Relay. 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. Visit
www.rbc.com/sponsorship.
- 2010 -
Media Contacts
Kirsten Mihailides
Coca-Cola
Manager, Public Affairs & Communications
604.247.5446 kmihailides@na.ko.com
Chethan Lakshman
RBC
Director, Corporate Communications
416.974.9463 chethan.lakshman@rbc.com
Katie Green
VANOC Communications
604.403.2473 katie_green@vancouver2010.com
Sebastien Theberge
VANOC Communications
604.403.2261 sebastien_theberge@vancouver2010.com
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