Jean-Luc Brassard named Rio 2016 Chef de Mission
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JEAN-LUC BRASSARD NAMED RIO 2016 CHEF DE MISSION
Legendary Olympic Freestyle Skier to lead Canadian Olympic Team in Rio
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MONTREAL (Dec. 4, 2014) – Today, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced four-time Olympian, and Olympic Champion, Jean-Luc Brassard as the Rio 2016 Chef de Mission for the Canadian Olympic Team.
President Marcel Aubut, Brassard and a number of fellow Olympians, celebrated the announcement at a Brazilian themed restaurant, while dancers wearing traditional Brazilian apparel entertained. Brassard re-joins the Canadian Olympic Team after successfully serving as Assistant Chef de Mission at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi earlier this year.
Jean-Luc Brassard joined the Canadian National Freestyle Ski team at the age of 17 and enjoyed a brilliant 12-year career. During that time he competed at four Olympic Winter Games and won Olympic gold at Lillehammer 1994 in the men’s moguls event of freestyle skiing. Brassard had made his impressive Olympic debut at Albertville 1992 with a seventh place finish. Two years later he stood atop the Olympic podium and in the process becoming Canada’s first ever male Olympic gold medalist in skiing. As the reigning Olympic champion, he was given the honour of being Canada’s flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony of Nagano 1998 where he went on to finish fourth. He ended his Olympic career after the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. In February 2013 he was named Assistant Chef de Mission of the Canadian Olympic Team for Sochi 2014.
In 610 days, 10,500 athletes from 204 countries will arrive in Rio for the biggest sporting event on the planet. This will be the first Olympic Games to ever be hosted in South America.
The Rio Olympic Games will take place from August 5-21, 2016 and include 306 medal events.
QUOTES
“I am honoured to be named Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. I am ready and welcome this challenge. My Sochi experience has totally prepared me to lead the team as we head to Rio. I look forward to representing these amazing athletes, coaches and support team members on the world stage as we strive to deliver our best performances at the Games.”
– Jean-Luc Brassard, Rio 2016 Chef de Mission
“The COC is proud to welcome Jean-Luc Brassard as Chef de Mission for the Rio 2016 Games. He is the right choice, with the right experience at the right time. His outstanding Sochi performance showed us all, he has what it takes to be a great Chef de Mission. The Canadian Olympic Team is in great hands.”
– Marcel Aubut, President, Canadian Olympic Committee
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