COC unveils Hall of Fame Legacy in Moncton
Toronto, January 30, 2012
Moncton, New Brunswick – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced a $50,000 investment in the Moncton sport community – a legacy of last year’s successful Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame week.
“Our tour through Atlantic Canada last year spread the Olympic spirit throughout the region,” said Chris Overholt, CEO of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “Today we offer a tangible thank you to the City of Moncton for its warm hospitality, its enthusiastic support of the Hall of Fame and for its generous fundraising efforts for Canadian Olympians.”
Moncton-area athletes of all ages will directly benefit from the legacy investment, which will go towards a new swim time clock and Athletics equipment for the Université de Moncton, as well as new basketball nets for the Moncton Miracles of the National Basketball League of Canada, which will also be available for community use.
“Welcoming the COC and so many Olympic athletes last year was a great thrill for me personally, as well as all Monctonians. This donation will go a long way to help the sports infrastructure here in Moncton,” says Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc. “The Hall of Fame festivities provided many economic benefits to our city and once again the COC steps up with this wonderful gift.”
The 2011 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Heroes Tour saw nine Olympic and Paralympic athletes travel to Halifax, St. John’s, Charlottetown, Summerside and Moncton to inspire personal excellence and reignite the Olympic spirit evidenced during the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay. The Heroes stopped at Canadian Forces Bases, schools, hospitals, city halls and even commemorated the anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope at Mile Zero in St. John’s. The Tour wrapped up in Moncton with an entertaining and inspiring show for school kids and a public rally at Moncton Market.
The week culminated with the 2011 Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame Gala Induction Ceremony, where athletes Elvis Stojko, Curtis Myden and David MacEachern joined coach Melody Davidson and builder Marc Lemay as the newest inductees into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.
