Jamaican athletes to use Birmingham for pre-Games training
August 18th, 2009
Jamaican athletes, including Olympic and World Champion Usain Bolt will use Birmingham, as a base for training ahead of the London 2012 Games.
Archive
Archive for August, 2009
HOCKEY CANADA UNVEILS TEAM CANADA’S 2010 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC JERSEY – News Releases – Vancouver 2010
August 17th, 2009
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Hockey Canada unveiled Team Canada’s 2010 hockey jersey on Monday, the result of a partnership with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), Nike Canada Corp., the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. These Hockey Canada jerseys by Nike will be worn exclusively at the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Vancouver by the men’s, women’s and sledge hockey teams representing Canada.
“Hockey Canada would like to thank all of its partners that have helped make these special 2010 Winter Games jerseys a reality,” said Bob Nicholson, Hockey Canada’s president and CEO. “These two jerseys will complement our traditional jersey, while respecting International Olympic Committee guidelines for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.”
“Working with our partners at Nike, we have developed a design that, while not a major departure from our current jersey, incorporates imagery in a different and meaningful way,” added Scott Smith, Hockey Canada’s chief operating officer. “We believe the jerseys honour the game of hockey and also celebrate our rich Canadian history and culture. Our teams and fans across the country will be proud to wear them during this special moment in 2010.”
“This Vancouver 2010 jersey will become part of our nation’s history and it’s very exciting to see it come to life through partnership and the vision of Nike and a talented Musqueam artist,” said John Furlong, VANOC’s chief executive officer. “We hope Canadians will embrace this sweater as the anticipation builds for Canadian team fans across the country and around the world as Team Canada goes for gold on home ice in just a few short months.”
“These jerseys bear a uniquely exciting Canadian look in keeping with the distinctly Canadian character. The appearance of these jerseys will ignite our nation’s pride each time some of Canada’s most recognizable athletes take to the ice to represent their country and the Canadian Olympic team,” said Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “We know all Canadians will be proud of the athletes wearing these memorable Olympic team jerseys, and that those same fans will wear them in demonstrating their support for our Olympic hockey players.”
“The Canadian Paralympic Committee is very proud of our national sledge hockey team, who are the current Paralympic gold medalists. This pride is reflected in the unique design of the 2010 Paralympic Games jersey,” said Carla Qualtrough, President, Canadian Paralympic Committee. “It is fitting that our Paralympic athletes will wear this jersey as Canada hosts its first Paralympic Winter Games, and many Canadians are introduced to the competitiveness and excitement of sledge hockey.”
Nike designed a unique jersey that incorporates several icons and cultural symbols that were developed by Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow. The dominant imagery depicted inside the Maple Leaf crest includes smaller Maple Leafs representing the gold medal counts for Canada’s men’s, women’s and sledge hockey teams, the thunderbird and eagle, two powerful First Nations symbols supporting and protecting the central Maple Leaf – and the heralded hockey player and stick.
Hockey Canada’s 2010 Olympic Winter Games jersey features the Vancouver 2010 and Canadian Olympic Committee marks. There will be two versions of the jersey: one in red and a second in white that the teams will wear in competition at the Olympics.
Hockey Canada’s 2010 Paralympic Winter Games jersey features the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic mark, as well as the Canadian Paralympic Committee mark.
“Nike is excited to support Hockey Canada, the COC, CPC and VANOC during this once in a lifetime moment in Canadian hockey history,” says Christopher Rigney, head of sports marketing for Nike Canada. “It’s a testament to the essential role hockey plays in our country’s culture and heritage. We believe it celebrates the past and but also looks to the future.”
Team Canada 2010 jerseys, which come in red or white (suggested retail price 5), will be available later today online and in over 2,000 retail outlets across CAnada, including but not limited to SportChek locations, Nike stores, Hudson’s Bay Company stores, Olympic Stores in Vancouver, Whistler and the Vancouver International Airport, and online at www.vancouver2010.com. They will also be sold at the Olympic Superstore at the Bay Downtown Vancouver and hockey venue concession stands operated during the Games by VANOC’s merchandise concessionaire, XP Canada ULC. Replica jerseys will be identical to the authentic jerseys, with the exception of the presence of the Hockey Canada mark on the left sleeve.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s national teams, visit www.hockeycanada.ca.
Nike Canada Corp. named official high performance sporting goods manufacturer of Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Team Canada 2010 hockey jerseys unveiled – News Releases – Vancouver 2010
August 17th, 2009
Vancouver, BC – Nike Canada Corp. and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) announced today that Nike has been named the Official Supplier of high performance sporting goods for the upcoming Games and introduced the highly anticipated Team Canada 2010 hockey jerseys.
Nike, Hockey Canada, VANOC, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), and the Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) showcased the new Team Canada 2010 hockey jerseys at a news conference in Vancouver.
“Nike has a long and proud history of supporting athletes and we’re very pleased by the opportunity to partner with the 2010 Winter Games,” said Maria Montaño general manager, Nike Canada Corp. “We are very proud to unveil the new Team Canada hockey jerseys that our hockey athletes will wear to help bring back the gold. We expect fans will love it, especially since they will be able to see it in action on home ice.”
Nike, in collaboration with Musqueam artist Debra Sparrow, designed a unique jersey that incorporates several icons and cultural symbols of Canada’s rich history. The dominant imagery depicted inside the Maple Leaf crest includes smaller maple leaves representing the gold medal counts for our men’s, women’s and ice sledge hockey teams, as well as a thunderbird and eagle — two powerful First Nations symbols supporting and protecting the central Maple Leaf — and of course the heralded hockey player and stick.
The jerseys also include the official Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games’ emblems — a first for a Team Canada hockey sweater — and the official logos of the COC and CPC.
With a suggested retail price of 5 for a replica jersey, Team Canada 2010 jerseys come in red or white. The jerseys are available today in Nike stores across Canada and at Hudson’s Bay Company Bay stores. Later this fall, they will be available at Olympic Stores in Vancouver, Whistler, at the Vancouver International Airport and online at www.vancouver2010.com. They will also be sold at the Olympic Superstore at the Bay Downtown Vancouver and hockey venue concession stands operated at Games time by VANOC’s merchandise concessionaire, XP Canada ULC.
“We’re pleased to welcome this global athletic brand leader to the Vancouver 2010 team,” said John Furlong, VANOC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Nike is a fitting addition to our sponsor family because of the company’s dedication to excellence and quality and their partnership helps us exceed our domestic sponsorship goals for delivering great Games in 2010. It’s very exciting to see the 2010 jersey brought to life as a result of creative collaboration between Nike, Hockey Canada, the COC, the CPC, and our team here at VANOC.”
Under the Official Supplier agreement, Nike will have exclusive rights to market and promote within the high performance sporting goods manufacturer product category for the 2010 Winter Games and rights to associate with the Canadian Olympic Teams competing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games. In return, Nike will make a financial investment in the Games and provide a number of Team Canada replica 2010 ice hockey jerseys to the Organizing Committee as part of its merchandising program.
About Nike Inc.
Nike Inc., based near Beaverton, Ore., is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned Nike subsidiaries include: Converse Inc., which designs, markets and distributes athletic footwear, apparel and accessories; Cole Haan, which designs, markets and distributes luxury shoes, handbags, accessories, and coats; Umbro Ltd., a leading United Kingdom-based global football (soccer) brand; and Hurley International LLC, which designs, markets and distributes action sports and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, visit nikebiz.com.
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 2010 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, Acer, Atos Origin, General Electric, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa. VANOC’s National Partners are Bell Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, RBC Financial Group, General Motors of Canada, Petro-Canada and RONA.
VANOC’s Official Supporters include Air Canada, BC Hydro, Bombardier, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC), Jet Set Sports, Ricoh Canada, Royal Canadian Mint and Teck Resources. VANOC’s Official Suppliers are 3M, Acklands-Grainger, Aggreko, ALDA Pharmaceuticals Corp., Aquilini Investment Group, Birks, Britco, Canada Post, Canwest Publishing, COLD-FX, Deloitte, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Garrett Metal Detectors, General Mills, Hain Celestial Canada, Haworth Canada, Jackson Triggs, Karl’s Global Events Inc., La Presse, Millennium Development Corp., Molson, Nike Canada Corp., Nortel, Offsetters, Port Metro Vancouver, Purolator Courier Ltd., Saputo, Sleep Country Canada, Sun Microsystems of Canada, The Globe and Mail, Tickets.com, TransCanada, Vancouver Airport Authority, Weston Bakeries, Workopolis and Wrigley Canada.
The IOC Launches Latest Element of “The Best of Us” Campaign
August 17th, 2009
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) today announced the launch of the latest component of “The Best of Us” promotional campaign, a multifaceted, global effort that aims to bring the Olympic values to life and engage young people around the world.
The animated commercial, entitled “All Together Now,” was broadcast for the first time by the IOC’s broadcast partner in the United States, NBC, during the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, in Berlin, Germany, on 15 August.
In the 30-second public service announcement, six larger-than-life Olympic athletes are depicted literally pulling countries together, symbolising the inspiration of the athletes and their superhuman abilities to unite the world in the spirit of Olympism.
The spot will be made available to broadcasters across the world, and can also be viewed on the IOC’s website.
The objective of the promotional campaign is to communicate the key Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect to a global youth audience. “The Best of Us” is a simple, powerful idea that transcends cultures and borders, motivating young people around the world to participate in sport by proving that sport can bring out their best.
The campaign was developed by the Voluntarily United Group of Creative Agencies (United), part of the WPP Group. The creative development was led by Cole & Weber, based in Seattle, USA. The animated commercial was directed by the young French directing duo, FX & Mat, of Nexus Productions.
The IOC is working with United on a multi-dimensional campaign approach consisting of TV, online, print and PR activities. The campaign will be rolled out in a phased approach in 2009 and beyond.
# # #
For information on Cole & Weber: http://www.coleweber.com/
For information on the Directors of the public service announcement: http://www.nexusproductions.com/directors/fx-mat
For further information, please contact the IOC Communications Department, tel: +41 21 621 60 00, email: pressoffice@olympic.org
IOC Launches “The Best of Us” Animated Commercial
August 17th, 2009
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has launched the latest component of “The Best of Us” promotional campaign – an animated commercial entitled “All Together Now,”
In the 30-second public service announcement, six larger-than-life Olympic athletes are depicted literally pulling countries together, symbolising the inspiration of the athletes and their superhuman abilities to unite the world in the spirit of Olympism.
The animation was directed by the brilliant young French directing duo, FX & Mat of Nexus Productions. FX & Mat have attracted international acclaim with their amazing and diverse animations, having made an award-winning debut with their short film “En Tus Brazos” (see http://www.nexusproductions.com/directors/fx-mat)
The spot will be aired by broadcasters across the world, and can also be viewed here.
Women’s boxing for 2012 and golf and rugby proposed for 2016
August 17th, 2009
The International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board (EB) has approved the inclusion of women’s boxing for the Games in London in 2012 and will propose the sports of golf and rugby for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic programme.
New events for the 2012 Games – including women’s boxing
The EB has approved several new events for the 2012 London Olympic Games, all of which had been requested by the relevant International Federations. Women’s boxing makes its Olympic debut with three new events agreed for 2012. The 11 current men’s boxing events will be replaced by 10 men’s and three women’s events.
Other changes include the replacement of men’s canoeing C2 500m with women’s K1 200m and the replacement of the remaining three men’s 500m sprint events with 200m sprint events. In modern pentathlon a new combined run-shoot format was approved, as was the removal of placement matches in the handball tournament.
Furthermore, the EB agreed to consider the inclusion of a mixed doubles event pending guarantees from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) that the top players in the singles rankings would be able to participate. The EB will make a decision on the issue at its December meeting in Lausanne.
Added value to the Games
The EB will propose the sports of golf and rugby to be included in the 2016 Olympic programme for ratification by the full IOC Session in Copenhagen in October.
Seven sports — baseball, golf, karate, roller sports, rugby, softball and squash — were seeking to enter the Olympic programme.
“All seven sports made a strong case for inclusion, and the EB carefully evaluated them in a transparent and fair process. In the end, the decision came down to which two would add the most value,” said IOC President Jacques Rogge, who elected not to take part in the vote. “Golf and rugby will be a great addition to the Games.”
The key factors in determining a sport’s suitability for the Olympic programme include youth appeal, universality, popularity, good governance, respect for athletes and respect for the Olympic values.
“Golf and rugby scored high on all the criteria,” Rogge said. “They have global appeal, a geographically diverse line-up of top iconic athletes and an ethic that stresses fair play.”
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Pascal Couchepin and John Furlong sign convention for the promotion of French at 2010 Winter Games – News Releases – Vancouver 2010
August 14th, 2009
In Games first, Grand Témoin’s mission extended to now also include Paralympic Games
Federal councillor Pascal Couchepin, Grand Témoin de la Francophonie, and John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), signed a convention today for the promotion of French at the Games in 2010.
Mr. Couchepin, president of the Swiss Confederation in 2003 and 2008, member of the Swiss Federal Council and head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (health, social affairs, education, research and culture), was tasked by Abdou Diouf, Secretary General of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), with supporting VANOC’s efforts to ensure bilingual Games in Vancouver and Whistler in 2010.
The convention signed by La Francophonie and VANOC reinforces the high standards for bilingualism set for VANOC with its government partners. It provides for a program of cooperation that includes: assistance in recruiting young volunteers from Francophone countries and the participation of Francophone performers in the official ceremonies and cultural activities associated with the Games, as well as the organization of a Francophone event.
The convention also contains two major firsts: the extension of the Grand Témoin’s mission to include both the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the creation of a linguistic legacy through the production of a guide that lays out best practices for ensuring bilingualism at the Games. This knowledge will be passed on to subsequent Organizing Committees for use at future Games after 2010.
The convention’s implementation will be monitored by a cooperation committee comprising of representatives from the Francophone consular corps in Vancouver, the OIF and VANOC. Mobilization of Francophone states and governments, as well as the Olympic Movement in support of bilingual Games was particularly noteworthy at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games . It will be further reinforced in Canada, a member state of La Francophonie, where it will benefit from the status of French as an official language.
This convention was signed on the occasion of the Grand Témoin de la Francophonie’s first visit to Ottawa and subsequently Vancouver, where he met with the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Honorable Lawrence Cannon, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, Francophone ambassadors, VANOC CEO, John Furlong, and members of VANOC’s board advisory committee on official languages. He attended the board advisory committee’s second meeting, met with several Francophone consuls and visited 2010 Winter Games’ sites in Vancouver and Whistler.
Mr. Couchepin will make a second visit to Canada in the autumn of 2009 and will be present in Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Games.
In his mission as Grand Témoin de la Francophonie, Mr. Couchepin succeeds Jean-Pierre Raffarin (Beijing 2008), Lise Bissonnette (Turin 2006) and Hervé Bourges (Athens 2004).
For more information:
Audrey Delacroix, commissioner for the French language in the Olympic Games
Tel.: + 33 6 85 31 33 75 – e-mail: audrey.delacroix@francophonie.org
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.
Press Contact
If you are a member of the media, please contact mediarelations@vancouver2010.com
Organisation internationale de la Francophonie
Anissa Barrak, head of the communication department anissa.barrak@francophonie.org
Nathalie Heneman, officer in charge of media relations
Tel. (+33) 1 44 37 32 52 nathalie.heneman@francophonie.org
For all other inquiries, please contact info@vancouver2010.com
Singapore 2010: One Year to Go!
August 14th, 2009
Today, Friday 14 August 2009, Singapore is celebrating its One Year Countdown to the 1st Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
It is an important milestone for this new event for the IOC and the Olympic Movement in general.
Festivities are being held at the Padang* in Singapore with the countdown kick off at 20:10 - which will be the same time as for the Opening Ceremony next year.
The event features the unveiling of the 1st YOG Countdown clock provided by Omega, Official Timekeeper for Singapore 2010. Other activities include the YOG Carnival – with sports tryouts and activity booths, the Olympic Day Run, concerts and fireworks. A special stamp has been issued by SingPost to commemorate the day!
Since planning and preparations for the inaugural YOG began 17 months ago, the Singapore Organising Committee (SYOGOC) has made excellent progress and is on track to deliver a memorable inaugural Youth Olympic Games. The IOC’s vision is becoming a reality – a sporting event for the youth balancing sport, education and culture within the Olympic Movement, acting as a catalyst for initiatives with young people around the world.
The IOC Coordinating Commission has expressed confidence in the progress made in Singapore to date. In the remaining 365 days to the Games, the IOC will continue to work closely with the Organising Committee to ensure that Singapore delivers an outstanding inaugural Youth Olympic Games.
For more information on the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games, www.singapore2010.sg and www.whyohgee.sg
* The Padang is a large field in the center of the Singapore where, historically, large public gatherings take place
London 2012 appoints the London Marathon to work on the Olympic and Paralympic Marathons
August 14th, 2009
The London 2012 Organising Committee has appointed the London Marathon to help manage and design the Marathon for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
London Marathon to work on course for 2012 Games
August 14th, 2009
The London 2012 Organising Committee has appointed the London Marathon to help manage and design the Marathon for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.