Coca-Cola Canada and RBC join VANOC in sharing the 2010
Olympic Torch Relay with communities Canada-wide
Halifax, Nova Scotia, January 28, 2008 — Today
in Halifax, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced that
Coca-Cola Canada and RBC will join VANOC as the exclusive
Presenting Partners of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. VANOC
also unveiled the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay Emblem that will
become iconic in the lead-up and operation of the cross-Canada
event preceding the 2010 Winter Games.
Next to the Olympic Rings themselves, the Olympic Flame is
the most universally recognized symbol of the Games. For the
public, the Torch Relay is often the first and most tangible
evidence of the arrival of the Olympic Games.
"The vision of the 2010 Games is to encourage Canadians
to 'Celebrate the Possible'. This principle is embedded in
the very essence of the Torch Relay and the tremendous opportunity
it presents to unify and inspire people across the country
and around the world," said John Furlong, Chief Executive
Officer of VANOC. "We will see over 100 days of light
shining on the people and places that define our national
character while inspiring Canadians to be the best they can
be."
"Coca-Cola and RBC represent the importance of partnerships
to the success of the 2010 Winter Games. Their exceptional
commitment will help us to ensure that every Canadian has
the opportunity to be touched by the spirit of the Olympic
Flame and make a very personal connection to our Games,"
he continued.
As Presenting Partners of the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola
Canada and RBC receive exclusive marketing rights and an agreed
upon number of torchbearer slots to be allocated through a
public process designed in collaboration with VANOC. They
will also work in collaboration with VANOC on the overall
development of the Olympic Torch Relay.
"Our Olympic legacy will focus on inspiring Canadians
to make a lifelong commitment to active living, environmental
conservation and bringing the Olympic values to life in communities
across the country," said Vince Timpano, President, Coca-Cola
Canada.
"From town to town, the Olympic Torch Relay will connect
all Canadians to Vancouver 2010 and what it stands for,"
said Gordon M. Nixon, RBC President and CEO. "RBC is
honoured to help bring millions of Canadians and their communities
a chance to participate in the celebration and excitement
of the Games through the Olympic Torch Relay."
As reported in the VANOC business plan (May 8, 2007) the
cost of the Olympic and Paralympic Torch Relays is approximately
$31 million CDN, the majority of which is expected to be funded
through a number of corporate sponsors in addition to the
two exclusive Presenting Partners being announced today.
The Official Emblem of the Olympic Torch Relay
Called "A Path of Northern Lights", the Vancouver
2010 Olympic Torch Relay Emblem incorporates a stylized flame
atop a band of white representing both the torch and the path
it will take across the country. On either side of the band
are ribbons of blue and green drawn from the unique Vancouver
2010 colour palette reflecting the landscape of the host region.
Contained within a stone shape that mirrors the elements
of the 2010 Olympic Games Emblem - the inukshuk - the bilingual
emblem also incorporates the Vancouver 2010 wordmark and the
Olympic Rings. The emblem will appear in conjunction with
the Presenting Partners' logos, except on the Olympic Torch
and on the Olympic Torchbearer uniforms.
"The emblem embodies the Torch Relay as it moves across
Canada and ignites the fire of the Olympic spirit within the
people and communities that it touches. As the torch makes
its way through this country, sparks of pride will turn into
flames. As one holds the Olympic Torch they will literally
hold the beauty of the Olympic Games in their hands,"
said Furlong.
About the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic Flame will travel 35,000 kilometres over approximately
100 days and visit every province and territory in Canada.
The flame will be carried on its remarkable journey by some
12,000 torchbearers. Up to 120 people will have the opportunity
to carry the flame each day, selected through a public process
to be shared with Canadians in November 2008.
The 2010 Olympic Torch Relay will be highlighted by hundreds
of community celebrations and will leave an enduring legacy
that will continue well after the flame is extinguished in
2010.
"When the Olympic Flame arrives on the shore of a host
nation, what was once just an abstract idea becomes very real.
There is a surge of emotion that is genuine and undeniable
when one is in the immediate presence of the flame. It is
the inspiring power of this moment that we want to capture
and share with Canadians from coast to coast to coast and
with the world," said Furlong.
Today's event builds excitement for major Torch Relay announcements
planned for fall 2008, including the launch of the relay route,
the unveiling of the 2010 Olympic Torch design, the official
torchbearer uniform and information on the torchbearer application
process.
Those interested in news and updates on
the Olympic Torch Relay can sign up at www.vancouver2010.com
to receive this and other 2010 Winter Games-related information.
For comments from Vancouver 2010 Government and Four Host
First Nations Partners see below.
A high-resolution version of the Vancouver
2010 Olympic Torch Relay Emblem is available at ftp://2010ftp.vancouver2010.com.
The username is MediaVenueDay, the password is thesc00p and
the folder is Media Venue Day.
Coca-Cola and the Olympic Movement
The Coca-Cola Company has been associated
with the Olympic Games since 1928 - almost 80 years - and
is the longest continuous corporate supporter of the Olympic
Movement. The company's sponsorship supports National Olympic
Committees in more than 200 countries to help athletes train
and compete. Products of the Coca-Cola Company refresh athletes,
volunteers, officials and spectators during the Olympic Games.
Supporting programs such as the Olympic Torch Relay allow
the Coca-Cola Company to help share the Olympic spirit around
the world. The Coca-Cola Company is the exclusive nonalcoholic
beverage provider to the Olympic Games through 2020. Visit
www.thecocacolacompany.com
or www.coca-cola.ca.
RBC and Amateur Sport
Royal Bank of 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. RBC has sponsored
the Canadian Olympic Committee since 1947, making it Canada's
longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team. RBC
continues this sponsorship through 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. Visit www.rbc.com/sponsorship.
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.
VANOC's marketing program is focused on
securing mutually rewarding partnerships with shared values
to generate sufficient revenue to host successful Winter Games
in 2010 and to leave a financial legacy for sport. VANOC's
Worldwide TOP Partners include Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE,
McDonald's, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa. VANOC's National
Partners are Bell Canada, Hbc, RBC Financial Group, GM Canada,
Petro-Canada and RONA.
VANOC's Official Supporters include Air Canada, British Columbia
Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, the Insurance Corporation
of British Columbia, Jet Set Sports, Ricoh Canada Inc., the
Royal Canadian Mint, and Teck Cominco Limited. VANOC's Official
Suppliers are 3M, Birks, Britco, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Haworth
Canada, Nortel, Saputo, Sun Microsystems, TransCanada, Vincor
Canada, Weston Bakeries and Workopolis.
- 2010 -
Media Contacts:
Suzanne Walters
VANOC Communications
Tel: 778.328.6386
suzanne_walters@vancouver2010.com
Mary Fraser
VANOC Communications
Tel. 778.328.3667
mary_fraser@vancouver2010.com
Suzanne Reeves (for Halifax event)
VANOC Communications
Tel: 778.328-6377
suzanne_reeves@vancouver2010.com
Comments from Vancouver 2010 Government and Four Host First
Nations Partners
Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade
and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler
Olympics
"The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay promises to be
a powerful event that will bring all Canadians together in
the weeks leading up to the Games," said Minister Emerson.
"The Torch will inspire and encourage Canadians to live
healthy lifestyles and give back to their communities. Congratulations
to all the relay partners on reaching today's milestone."
Honourable Gordon Campbell, Premier, Province of British
Columbia
"Today's announcement ignites the anticipation that will
grow to incredible heights as British Columbians prepare to
welcome the Olympic Torch Relay and celebrate the beginning
of the Games in 2010. I want to thank the sponsors and all
partners who are working to bring the Olympics closer to all
Canadians."
Mayor Sam Sullivan, City of Vancouver
"Today's announcement raises the level of excitement
to a new level in Vancouver. The spirit of the Games will
build momentum as the 2010 Torch Relay passes through cities
across Canada and Vancouver will be ready to welcome the Flame
as it arrives in our great city and ignites the cauldron at
BC Place Stadium to officially begin the 2010 Winter Games."
Mayor Ken Melamed, Resort Municipality of Whistler
"We will be watching as the Olympic Torch arrives back
on Canadian soil and our community looks forward to welcoming
it to the mountains of BC and giving the Olympic Flame a true
Whistler welcome."
Tewanee Joseph, Executive Director and CEO, Four Host
First Nations Secretariat
"Fire has great meaning to First Nations' people and
is present in many of our most important ceremonies; fire
symbolizes the heart of the People and cleanses the spirit,
it is a messenger and considered a great gift. We look forward
to sharing in this gift with the people of Canada and to watch
the Torch make its way across many of our traditional lands."
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