Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - Canada's Olympic and Paralympic Summer
Sport Athletes Gather to Launch Road to London 2012

- Media Opportunity with medal-winning athletes set for July 21 at 11 a.m. -

TORONTO, July 19 /CNW/ - With the historic 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games behind us, Canada's medal winning Olympic and Paralympic summer-sport athletes are pleased to invite news, sports and business media to join them in officially launching "The Road to London 2012", in Toronto.

The media conference and luncheon, hosted in partnership between the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and Own the Podium, will be held on July 21, 2010 at 11 a.m. (EST) at the Real Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Toronto.

With Canadian athletes completing final preparations for the 2010 World Championships in their respective sports, media will be given an opportunity to conduct one-one-one interviews and stage photos with Olympic and Paralympic athletes representing a variety of medal-targeted summer sports who will join forces to encourage Canadians to back their quest for the podium in London.

    
    WHEN:     Wednesday, July 21, 2010
              11:00 a.m. EST

    WHERE:    Real Sports Bar and Grill
              Maple Leaf Square
              15 York Street, Toronto, Ont.

    WHO:      Jean R. Dupré - CEO - Canadian Olympic Committee
              Henry Storgaard - CEO - Canadian Paralympic Committee
              John Furlong - Chair - Own the Podium
              Alex Baumann - CEO - Own the Podium
              Priscilla Lopes-Schliep - Olympian, bronze medallist -
              Athletics
              Alexandre Despatie - Three-time Olympian, double silver
              medallist - Diving
              Leslie-Thompson Willie - Six-time Olympian, four-time medallist
              - Rowing
              David Eng - Two-time Paralympian, gold and silver medallist -
              Wheelchair Basketball
              Benoit Huot - Three-time Paralympian, 16-time medallist -
              Swimming
              David Willsie - Three-time Paralympian, bronze and silver
              medallist - Wheelchair Rugby

              Approximately 20 Olympic and Paralympic athletes in attendance
              National Sport Federations Executives
    

PHOTOS: Strong photo and one-on-one interview opportunities will be available with some of Canada's top high-performance summer sport athletes.

INTERVIEWS: Out-of-town media unable to attend the event in person may contact one of the media liaisons highlighted below.

For further information: Chris Dornan, Own the Podium, T: 281-703-4394, E-mail: [email protected]; Isabelle Hodge, Canadian Olympic Committee, T: 416-324-4122, E-mail: [email protected]; Marie-Hélène Cayer, Canadian Paralympic Committee, T: 613-293-3358, E-mail: [email protected]