Prince Edward Island Joins Vancouver 2010 Team as Contributing Province

For Immediate Release
February 17, 2009

Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND JOINS VANCOUVER 2010 TEAM AS CONTRIBUTING PROVINCE

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI -- With less than a year to go until the Opening Ceremonies for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Prince Edward Island has joined in the excitement by contributing directly to the success of the Canadian team and is set to showcase the region’s rich cultural heritage to the world.

The spirit of the Olympic and Paralympic Games was alive today as Premier Robert Ghiz and Sport Minister Carolyn Bertram joined Taleeb Noormohamed, Director Corporate Strategy and Partner Relations for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), to announce that Prince Edward Island has joined VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program (CPTP).

“I am pleased to announce today that Prince Edward Island has joined the Contributing Province/Territory Program for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Premier Ghiz. “As part of this agreement, the province will be contributing toward showcasing our Island’s arts and culture through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad, and directly supporting the staging of the Games. I know that Islanders will be especially proud when the Olympic torch comes through our province on November 21, 2009.”

“The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games will be a spectacular celebration that allows us to highlight the unique history and proud people that make up our country,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer VANOC. “We want to thank Prince Edward Island for contributing to the program and participating in this adventure on our way to 2010. We look forward to sharing the stories of the Island to a world audience.”

VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory enables Prince Edward Island to participate in the following:

• Organize a Prince Edward Island Day at the 2010 Winter Games to promote the province;

• Participate in the Cultural Olympiad, which will include opportunities for Prince Edward Island artists;

• Encourage Aboriginal participation in the Games and preceding events;

• Access VANOC promotional materials;

• Use the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Own the Podium 2010 logos;

• Promote educational and volunteer opportunities relating to sport and culture, and encourage healthy lifestyles; and

• Participate in the historic torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“We are proud that Prince Edward Island will be a participant in the historic torch relay for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games,” said Minister Bertram. The Olympic Flame relay will travel 320 kilometres by land and water in our province, involve 250 torchbearers and visit 26 Island communities, including the First Nations home of Lennox Island.”

BACKGROUND

Contributing Province/Territory Program

VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program offers a structured avenue for all provinces and territories to participate in the 2010 Winter Games. Under the CPTP, signatory provinces and territories receive a package of benefits that create a close association with the Games, similar to those of corporate sponsors. In return, participating provinces and territories make a financial contribution towards the success of Canadian athletes in 2010 through the Own the Podium 2010 program; culture and arts, through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad; and directly, to staging successful Games in 2010. VANOC developed this new program in response to interest demonstrated by Canada’s provinces and territories outside of British Columbia to allow for greater involvement in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

VANOC

VANOC’s government partners provide funding, infrastructure, essential service support and management services to the 2010 Winter Games, which will contribute to the lasting economic, sport, cultural and social legacies for citizens and communities throughout Canada. VANOC’s government partners include the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. Prince Edward Island today joins VANOC’s existing Contributing Province/Territory Program partners, including Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, and Saskatchewan. VANOC’s Venue Cities are Richmond, Surrey and West Vancouver. VANOC has also signed an MOU with each Canadian province and territory.

VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island is Canada’s smallest province. One of the four Atlantic Provinces, this crescent shaped Island is located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, off the Atlantic Coast of the Canadian mainland. Steeped in heritage and history, Prince Edward Island is where the idea of Canada was born. Islanders and visitors enjoy both cultural and sporting activities such as main stage and community theatres, museums, art galleries, good restaurants, regular festivals and events, fabulous beaches and swimming, great golf, scenic walking trails, and national and international sports competitions.

The 2009 Canada Games will be held in Prince Edward Island August 15-29. This will mark the first time an entire province has hosted any set of Games with sport venues in 15 different communities stretching across the Island. Athletes will compete in 18 sports, and participants from across Canada will take part in the National Arts Program.

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