Canada Olympic Committee Announces $2.9 Million Donation from Hbc

OTTAWA, Canada, January 25. THE Canada Olympic Committee announced that Hudson's Bay Company (Hbc) is donating $2.9 million to Canadian Olympic hopefuls, $2 million of which was raised through its annual Hbc Run for Canada campaign. The funds will go directly to 200 Canadian athletes, various national training centers and the country's top sport organizations, in an effort to provide Canadian athletes with direct financial assistance and resources to help them reach the podium.

Swimmers Mike Brown, Chanelle Charon-Watson, Devin Gotell, Brian Johns, Audrey Lacroix, Erica Morningstar, Annamay Pierse, Jacqueline Rennebohm, Matt Rose, Katarina Roxon, and Colin Russell are among those 200 athletes to be helped.

The $2.9 million donation is the third installment of the $20 million Hbc has committed to raise by 2012, primarily through the annual Hbc Run for Canada event. To date, the Company has already raised nearly $6 million towards its goal. The funds were raised by the more than 13,000 Canadians who participated in the 2007 run, which will expand from 13 to 15 cities across the country in 2008. Edmonton and Quebec City will become the new host cities.

The remainder of the funds were raised through in-store activities and an annual golf tournament in support of the athletes. In addition to raising $20 million, Hbc hopes to build awareness for Canadian athlete funding and encourages Canadians to become involved in supporting their local athletes by participating in the annual Hbc Run for Canada in July.

A total of $1 million will go directly to 200 competing Canadian athletes chosen by the Canadian Olympic Committee in consultation with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Canada and the National Sport Federations. Each Federation has identified their medal hopefuls, including their up-and-comers for the 2010 Games and beyond. The remaining funds will go to organizations and training centers, which directly impact Canadian athletes.

Funding Breakdown
$1,000,000
200 Canadian athletes

$300,000
"Own the Podium" – an initiative supporting athletes training for the Olympic Winter Games

$300,00
"Road to Excellence" – an initiative supporting athletes training for the Olympic Games

$300,000
Canadian Paralympic Foundation

$400,000
Commonwealth Games Canada

$300,000
Pacific Sport National Training Center (Victoria)

$50,000 (each)
Canadian Sport Center Atlantic (Halifax)
Center National Multisport-Montreal
Canadian Sport Center Ontario
Canadian Sport Center Manitoba
Canadian Sport Center Saskatchewan
Canadian Sport Center Calgary

Special thanks to Swimming Canada for contributing this report.

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