Bell to Continue Supporting Canadian Olympic Committee

Canadian telecommunication leader Bell Canada has renewed its support for Canadian Olympic Athletes beyond London 2012 for an additional four years, pharm the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today.

“Bell is with us in everything we do and we could not ask for a better Partner, here ” said Marcel Aubut, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee from a press conference at Canada Olympic House in London, UK. “We are very excited to announce our ongoing relationship with Bell, a key member of Canada’s Olympic family.”

“Bell is proud to renew our longstanding commitment to the Canadian Olympic Committee, and we’re especially excited that the Canadian Olympic Committee will join Bell in making mental health a cornerstone of its philanthropic focus, bringing the conversation about mental health to schools across Canada,” said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. “Bell is also pleased to extend Bell Athletes Connect, what we believe is the only program of its kind by a telecom sponsor worldwide that provides nationally carded athletes with free mobile services. Bell is happy to support our Canadian athletes by enabling them to stay in close touch with their support network – family, friends, fans, coaches, and fellow athletes.”

The Bell Athletes Connect program will continue to be strengthened under COC’s management to help athletes stay connected with coaches, families and with Canadians.

Bell is joining with the Canadian Olympic Team in the construction of a social media delivery platform to help athletes to connect with athletes and with Canadians, using the power of Bell technology.

Bell and the COC will also join forces to heighten the conversation around mental health through the Canada Olympic Schools Program and other Canadian Olympic Team initiatives.

In addition, Bell will make a targeted contribution through programs which aim to strengthen high performance sport in Canada.

“Corporate support is so important to an athlete and to the sport community on a whole,” said 2008 Olympic gold medallist rower Adam Kreek. “Plus, the Bell Athletes Connect program allows athletes to keep in touch with their families from the road. That’s the kind of thing you can’t put a price tag on.”

The renewed sponsorship agreement extends the current agreement to 2016, continuing to deliver essential support for Canadian Olympic athletes heading to Sochi 2014, through to Rio 2016 and beyond.