Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Patrick Chan join RBC Olympians Program

Program offers funding to help Canadian athletes succeed on the world stage

TORONTO, Jan. 18, 2013 /CNW/ - RBC today announced its partnership with 2010 Olympic gold medalists and Canadian Ice Dancing champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, and 2012 World Champion and Canadian Men's Figure Skating champion Patrick Chan as part of the RBC Olympians Program.

"We are thrilled to welcome Tessa, Scott and Patrick to our family of RBC Olympians," said Jane Broderick, chief brand and communications officer at RBC. "Investing in our athletes is an investment in Canada and with just over a year until the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, we understand the importance of providing a strong foundation that includes funding and support to help our athletes succeed on the world stage."

Virtue, Moir and Chan will join 28 Olympic and Paralympic athletes currently involved in the RBC Olympians Program. As Canada's longest standing corporate supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team, RBC has been helping amateur athletes since 1947. Through the RBC Olympians Program, which began in 2002, RBC recruits and hires elite athletes to work as community ambassadors to bring the Olympic messages of excellence, teamwork, leadership, and commitment to communities. Athletes are hired from across Canada and during the course of their employment, gather skills and experiences that will help with their career transitions to life after sport. The program also provides the athletes much needed funding and flexible work arrangements which allow them to focus on training and competition. Since its inception, more than 185 Olympic and Paralympic athletes have participated in the RBC Olympians program and 10 have become full-time RBC employees.

"Achieving success at the Olympic level requires tremendous team effort. Scott and I rely on the support and guidance of our family, friends, coaches, communities and corporate partners like RBC who have supported Olympic athletes for many years," said Tessa Virtue. "Scott and I are very excited to join RBC and work with our fellow athletes to help inspire Canadians across the country through the RBC Olympians Program."

"RBC is known for its commitment to supporting and developing Canadian athletes - both grassroots and elite level," said Patrick Chan. "The year ahead is very important in my preparations for Sochi 2014 and I'm proud to have RBC as a key part of my team that will help set me up for success."

Virtue and Moir, and Chan will defend their national championship titles at the 2013 Canadian Figure Skating Championships taking place January 13 to 20, 2013 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.

About Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir

• Gold medalists at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
• Gold medalists at the 2010 and 2012 World Figure Skating Championships
• Four-time Canadian National Champions - 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012

About Patrick Chan

• Two-time World Champion - 2011 and 2012
• Five-time Canadian National Champion - 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012
• Lou Marsh Award for Canada's Athlete of the Year - 2011

RBC and Amateur Sport
As Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic Team since 1947, RBC proudly continues its sponsorship through to London 2012, Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016. RBC also sponsored the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. Supporting amateur sport, from grassroots programs in local communities to national sport associations, RBC helps in the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. RBC is also a premier sponsor of Hockey Canada. Visit rbc.com/sponsorship.

SOURCE: RBC

Jackie Braden, Director, RBC Brand Communications, 416 974-1724