Athletes from around the world share experiences of a lifetime in support of
charity auction for Right To Play

eBay.ca auction gives sports fans the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind sports memorabilia and experiences 

TORONTO, Dec. 21 /CNW/ - Sports fans across the country have the opportunity to own or experience a piece of sporting history in support of Right To Play, an international humanitarian organization. From autographed hockey, skiing, and cycling memorabilia to one-of-a-kind meet-and-greet experiences with athletes, including lunch with skeleton racer Jon Montgomery and ski lessons from Canadian Olympian Kelly VanderBeek, more than 20 items and experiences are available for bidding on eBay.ca.

Topping the list of ultimate sporting experiences, the Chelsea Football Club and Right To Play have partnered to offer a behind the scenes look at one of the world's greatest soccer clubs. The lucky winner of this eBay auction will get the chance to watch Chelsea FC players in training and be Chairman for the day, taking in the game from the Director's Box.

To mark Right To Play's tenth anniversary in 2010, bidding on many of the auction items will start at $20.10.

Robert Witchel, Right To Play's Canadian National Director remarks, "Right To Play is thrilled to be working with eBay on this one-of-a-kind holiday campaign. We are thankful for all the support Right To Play receives from our incredible Athlete Ambassadors, who truly understand the power of sport to improve the lives of children. As the year comes to a close, we will not only celebrate our Athlete Ambassadors' personal achievements, but also mark Right To Play's 10^th Anniversary through this unique auction."

The Right to Play auctions include:

• Lunch and tour of Canada Olympic Park with skeleton racer Jon Montgomery
• Day of skiing and lunch with Olympian Emily Brydon
• Bobsleigh lessons with Olympians Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown
• Hockey practice with members of Canada's National Women's Hockey team, Jennifer Botterill and Jayna Hefford
• Speed skating lessons with four-time Olympic champion Kristina Groves
• A day of cross-country skiing with Beckie Scott and Justin Wadsworth
• Canadian cyclist Michael Barry's 2010 Tour de France signed jersey
• A pair of Mellisa Hollingsworth's signed skeleton shoes
• Signed Zdeno Chara Team Slovakia jersey from the 2006 Olympics
• Signed Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals jersey

"It's great to see athletes from around the world coming together on eBay.ca for a great cause," said Andrea Stairs, country manager, eBay Canada. "In the first half of this year we raised $1.8 million for non-profits and charitable causes in Canada and we're excited about partnering with another Canadian organization, Right To Play, to support their fundraising efforts."

For more information on the Right To Play auctions or to place a bid, sports fans should visit www.eBay.ca/righttoplay. All auctions will close on December 30, 2010.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Images available upon request.

About Right To Play

Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, Right To Play builds local capacity by training community leaders as Coaches to deliver its programs in 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Founded in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The national offices raise funds, build awareness for Right To Play programs and advocate for Sport for Development.

About eBay

Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 6.9 million Canadians in August 2010. (comScore Media Metrix).

For further information:

Nicole Tuschak
Environics (on behalf of eBay Canada)
416.969.2712
[email protected]

Ashton Lawrence
Right To Play Canada
416.203.0190 x333
[email protected]