RBC Seeks Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Athletes for its Community Ambassador Program

By RBC (June 06, 2008)

RBC Olympian Jennifer Botterill

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 http://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.