Canadian Paralympic Committee congratulates Jean-Luc Brassard on appointment as Rio 2016 Chef de Mission

OTTAWA, Dec. 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The Canadian Paralympic Committee is pleased today to congratulate Jean-Luc Brassard, the Olympic champion freestyle skier, on his appointment as Chef de Mission for Team Canada at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Legendary Paralympic wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc, Team Canada's Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, applauded the appointment.

"I've known Jean-Luc for many years and can attest that he is an exceptionally positive leader, very personable, and someone with a passion for sport who can relate to everyone - athletes, coaches, staff and partners," said Petitclerc.

"We definitely share a passion for supporting athletes and seeing Canada at the top of the podium. I'm looking forward to working with Jean-Luc over the next couple of years, towards helping create an optimal environment of excellence for Team Canada to perform in Rio."

The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will take place from August 5 to 21, 2016 followed by the Paralympic Games Sept. 7 to 18, 2016. The Canadian Paralympic Team will comprise approximately 170 to 200 athletes. Qualification is ongoing and will be finalized in summer 2016.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee

The Canadian Paralympic Committee is a non-profit, private organization with 25 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 high performance athletes with a disability 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. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca

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SOURCE: Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC)

Alison Korn, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Phone: [phone] ext. 243, Cell: 613-298-4927, [email protected]; Martin Richard, Executive Director, Communications and Marketing, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Tel: [phone] ext. 224, Cell: 613-725-4339, [email protected]