Canadian Paralympic Committee Announces Team Canada for the London 2012 Paralympic Games
Air Canada partnership renewal set to fly athletes to London and beyond
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - It is with great anticipation and pride that the Canadian Paralympic Committee today announced the athletes, coaches and staff who will make up Team Canada at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Canada will bring a total of 145 athletes to compete in 15 sports in London. They are joined by 12 athlete support personnel (cycling pilots, running guides, boccia sport assistants and a rowing coxswain), and 134 officials (coaches, managers, support staff, mission staff).
The team will be led by Chef de Mission Gaétan Tardif (Toronto, ON) and Assistant Chef de Mission Elisabeth Walker-Young (Vancouver, BC). At a send off at Toronto's Pearson airport today, Tardif paid tribute to the outstanding Canadians chosen for this Team.
"I know our athletes are totally focused on performing their best in London," said Tardif. "We are all committed to making London 2012 a fantastic sequel to the Vancouver Games success story, one that will make all Canadians proud of their Paralympic athletes."
Assistant Chef de Mission Walker-Young, a six-time Paralympic medallist in swimming, added, "As a Paralympian, I'm honored to be trusted to help lead Team Canada and am proud to bring an athlete's perspective to its management."
Building on the great success of the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games (where Canada placed third in both the gold medal count and overall medal count), Canada is looking to continue its winning ways in London. The Canadian Paralympic Team's performance goal for London is to finish among the top eight nations, based on gold medal count. This goal was established in collaboration with Own the Podium, Sport Canada and all summer National Sport Organizations.
Canada will be assisted in this quest with the support of Air Canada, a premiere partner of the Canadian Paralympic Committee. With a partnership dating back to 2007, the extension of the partnership through to 2016 was also announced today.
"As we celebrate the end of the Olympics and look ahead to the Paralympics, Air Canada is delighted and proud to announce a renewal of our agreement with the Canadian Paralympic Committee," said Craig Landry, Vice President Marketing, Air Canada. "Travelling in comfort makes all the difference to an athlete, and whether it's access to a relaxing lounge between flights, or the opportunity to fly in Executive Class or Executive First, we are very pleased to play a role in Canada's quest for gold at the Paralympic Games in London and beyond."
The complete list of Team Canada is posted online and is downloadable here: http://www.paralympic.ca/en/London-2012/Team-Canada.html.
The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport), was onsite at the airport and applauded the news.
"On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, I would like to offer heartfelt congratulations to all of the athletes who were named today to the 2012 Canadian Paralympic Team," said Minister Gosal. "I am also very pleased to recognize the generous support of Air Canada in reaffirming its commitment to our athletes. Private industry has an important role to play in Canada's continued podium success, and when we all work together—governments and the private sector—we can continue to strengthen the Canadian sport system."
The Team Canada Media Guide, with athlete and coach biographies, and background information on the Games and Paralympic sports, is available online here:
http://www.paralympic.ca/en/London-2012/Media-Centre.html
About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 46 member sports organizations dedicated to strengthening the Paralympic movement. The Canadian Paralympic Committee's vision is to be the world's leading Paralympic nation. Its mission is to lead the development of a sustainable Paralympic sport system in Canada to enable athletes to reach the podium at the Paralympic Games. By supporting Canadian Paralympic athletes and promoting their success, the Canadian Paralympic Committee inspires all Canadians with a disability to get involved in sport through programs delivered by its member organizations.
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SOURCE: CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE (CPC)
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