Olympian welcomes Games sponsors

http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/index.cfm?sid=172099&sc=98

Olympian welcomes Games sponsors
Xerox Canada donating over $600,000 in equipment, software

TERESA WRIGHT
The Guardian

P.E.I. Olympian Jared Connaughton, left, hams it up with Xerox Canada CEO Kevin Warren, centre, and 2009 Canada Games hopeful Gerry MacAdam on the new running track being built at UPEI for the Games. Warren announced Tuesday his company is donating $600,000 of technology for the Games on P.E.I. next summer. See story, A2. Guardian photo by Heather Taweel

Despite his recent international attention at the Beijing Olympics, P.E.I. athlete Jared Connaughton still views his experience at the 2005 Canada Games as the most memorable moment of his life.
He won two gold medals in track and field events in that summer Games.
But now he said he’s excited to see the Games coming to P.E.I. and that a number of corporate sponsors are coming on board to help make it happen.
On Tuesday, Xerox Canada announced it is joining the team as a gold sponsor of the 2009 Canada Games on P.E.I.
The company is donating over $600,000 worth of Xerox printing equipment and logistics software that will enable volunteers to easily manage and distribute information.
These technologies will be used for athlete accreditation, media and internal communications for future Canada Games events.
“With tens of thousands of athletes, staff and visitors expected to attend the games, Xerox’s custom-built technology will both modernize and optimize current processes,” said Xerox Canada’s president and CEO Kevin Warren during a news conference Tuesday in Charlottetown.
“Our solutions create a streamlined infrastructure that will make the 2009 program one of the most technologically advanced to date.”
Wayne Carew, speaking on behalf of the Canada Games Host Society, said this kind of contribution is just what is needed for the Games on P.E.I. next year to be logistically organized.
“Next August will be very busy indeed — we expect tens of thousands of additional visitors to flock to our Island eager to watch world-class athletes,” Carew said.
“In order to stage a successful games and leave lasting legacies for P.E.I. the host society needs support from all sectors.”
The federal and provincial governments and Island municipalities all have come on board financially to help the Games happen.
But the host society still must raise about $7 million in corporate donations.
That’s why they were thrilled with Xerox Canada’s technical and logistical contribution.
The Xerox donation also includes hardware devices that can print, copy and scan to e-mail, enabling fast and efficient ‘real-time’ access to critical information.
Connaughton said this kind of support is so important for athletic competition.
“I know through experience that having data and logistics and technology not running as well as you wish it to can be a really big headache,” he said.
“So to have your results in real time, instant results especially after qualifying and not knowing whether you’ve made it to the next round — it’s something that’s amazing.”
During the funding announcement, he reflected on his athletic career.
Looking back, he said his experiences at the Canada Games are the ones that have remained closest to his heart.
“A lot of people don’t realize this, but in 2005, I was a double gold medallist, but leading into the Games I was injured the entire season,” Connaughton said.
“I didn’t compete at all actually for my team in Texas due to the injury. But when I got back to the Island and trained — as that famous quote says — on soccer fields and on sand dunes — I had the Canada Games as my focal point.
“I went on to win two gold medals . . . and even after my experience at the Olympics and my experience at the World Championships in Osaka, the 2005 Canada Games still to this day holds a very special place in my heart athletically and I do believe the most memorable moment of my life.”