Swimming Canada Partners with COC to Stage National Olympic Trials

With less than a month to the London 2012 selection trials in Montreal, therapy Swimming Canada has announced a historical partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) bringing the first ever Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials to life with RBC named title sponsor of the event in Montreal.

“We are extremely excited to announce this new partnership,” said Pierre Lafontaine, CEO and National Coach for Swimming Canada.

“Being able to integrate the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic brands within our marquee event of the quadrennial will provide our organization with a greater platform to promote the values of our sport, athletes and coaches.”

“As part of our new Vision 2020 strategic plan, Swimming Canada aims to be a world leading swimming nation. Having the COC and CPC partner with us for our key domestic competition is a step forward to achieving this mandate,” added Lafontaine.

From March 27th to April 1st 2012, Canada’s elite swimmers will race for a berth on Canada’s London Olympic & Paralympic Teams.

“This partnership is a new model for the Canadian Olympic Committee – a model we believe can be extended to other Summer and Winter sports and one that will create new broadcast and digital strategies for the future,” said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Overholt.

“Today’s exciting announcement is evidence of the power of Canadian sport partnerships and how National Sport Federations and the Canadian Olympic Committee, when combining our strengths and expertise, can together begin to define exciting new possibilities for the future of Olympic and high-performance sport in Canada.

“We need to work together with Canadian sport stakeholders to develop marquee events to elevate the profile of elite sport and to heighten the conversation about the unlimited potential of Canadian athleteson the international stage.

“High-profile events such as these Trials are important to showcasing Paralympic sport and Canada’s elite-level swimmers with a disability,” said Henry Storgaard, CEO of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. “Canada has a strong track record in Paralympic swimming and we are confident this marquee event will be a success in identifying the top talent aiming towards London – both established veterans and new medal contenders – while also generating excitement about the London 2012 Paralympic Games.”

Valued Olympic and Paralympic Partner, RBC, has joined forces with Swimming Canada to present these trials. As the first corporate supporter of the Olympic movement in Canada, RBC stepped forward and played a significant role in helping to make this marquee event – the Olympic and Paralympic swimming trials – happen.

“We are very grateful in welcoming RBC as part of our team,” added Lafontaine. “RBC shares our values of building great heroes and great Canadians thru sport and we are excited to build a partnership that will support our athletes’ quest for podium performances in London and beyond.”

“Investing in our athletes is an investment in Canada, and we are proud to partner with Swimming Canada to make a positive difference in amateur sport,” said Micheline Martin, RBC Regional President, Quebec. “Our support for Canada’s Olympic and Paralympic teams is focused on building a strong foundation for our athletes to succeed on the world stage, and we look forward to the trials and seeing our athletes compete this summer at the 2012 London Games.”