Release: Sochi Olympic Medallists Rewarded For Excellence

Type: Press Release

Topic: Sochi 2014

Year: 2014

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June 4, 2014

OLYMPIANS AND COACHES RECEIVE $1.8 MILLION FOR SOCHI MEDAL PERFORMANCES
86 athletes and 56 coaches receive $1,840,000 in rewards through the Athlete Excellence Fund and Coach Reward Program

GATINEAU – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee, in partnership with RBC and The Globe and Mail, presented more than $1.8 million in cheques to Sochi Olympians and their coaches for their medal performances in Sochi.  As part of the Celebration of Excellence events presented by RBC, the cheques were presented during a breakfast at the Hilton Lac-Leamy in Gatineau.

“This support is an added reward after all the hard work and gruelling hours spent training on the ice,” said Caroline Ouellette, four-time Olympian, four-time Olympic gold medallist. “Thank you to my coach for all of their support and to RBC for this generous gift, it means the world to me.”

The Canadian Olympic Committee’s Athlete Excellence Fund presented by RBC is an athlete support and reward program that provides Canadian athletes with performance awards of $20,000, $15,000 and $10,000 for winning Olympic gold, silver or bronze medals respectively. The performance rewards are the same for each athlete regardless of whether it is an individual or team sport. It also provides grants of $5,000 during non-Olympic years.

The Canadian Olympic Committee introduced the Coach Reward Program presented by The Globe and Mail prior to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The aim of the program is to recognize excellence in coaching and the critical impact it has on performance through financial awards made to coaches of Canadian Olympic medallists.

“We do our jobs every day because we love sport and competition,” said Chris Le Bihan, bobsleigh coach. “Thank you to The Globe and Mail for generously recognizing the coaches who are so vital to our athlete’s success and the realization of their Olympic dreams.”

The Sochi 2014 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Teams will be making public appearances starting today at Ottawa-area schools and hospitals as well as being honoured in the House of Commons. The Heroes Tour, consisting of school and hospital visits, will be making its way through Calgary, Banff, Red Deer and Edmonton on June 5th; and the post-Sochi Parade of Champions and the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame Gala, Induction Ceremony will  take place in the City of Calgary on June 6th.

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About the Canadian Olympic Committee:
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team’s podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic Committee delivers resources that Canada’s elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. The backbone of Canada’s Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. By sharing our athletes’ stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida, Senior Manager, Media Relations
Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca

Luc Beaudin, Coordinator, Communications and Media Relations
Cell: 514-206-6720
Email: lbeaudin@olympic.ca

Backgrounder

RBC & THE GLOBE AND MAIL OLYMPIANS AND COACHES RECEIVING MEDAL REWARD CHEQUES

 COACHES RECEIVING MEDAL REWARD CHEQUES Olympians receiving cheques:

Olympic coaches receiving cheques: