Media Releases 2005

SPORT TALENT SEARCH SEEKING YOUNG BC ATHLETES

Winter Sport Recruitment Camps to Identify Talent for 2010

Vancouver, B.C. (February 18, 2005): The Playground to Podium: Sport Talent Search, led by PacificSport in partnership with 2010 LegaciesNow, will be heading to six communities throughout the province to identify young athletes who may have potential to excel in Olympic and Paralympic winter sports.

"The Sport Talent Search allows us to go out and identify young active British Columbians who may unknowingly already have the skills-set essential to success in winter sport," said Wendy Pattenden, president and CEO of PacificSport Vancouver. "We are pleased to be collaborating with 2010 LegaciesNow and our other sport partners across B.C. as we work to ensure a strong representation of B.C. athletes on national teams."

The Sport Talent Search will test young athletes between the ages of 16 – 23 who may or may not have winter sport experience, using a number of physical fitness parameters and trials to discover if the youth have potential talent in the sports of bobsleigh, freestyle skiing (aerials), skeleton, snowboard (alpine) and speed skating (short track & long track). Information will also be available for youth interested in luge as well as Paralympic disciplines.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to work with PacificSport to assist young athletes succeed or even rediscover the thrill of sport," said Marion Lay, president and CEO, 2010 LegaciesNow. "The Sport Talent Search will give these youth the opportunity to realize their skills and talents in sports they may never have considered participating in."

Making stops this March in Burnaby, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Nelson and Prince George, the Sport Talent Search will invite young athletes from all sport disciplines to participate, including those from summer sports like gymnastics, dance, diving and cycling. The names of the identified athletes will then be sent to the respective provincial sport organization for follow-up.

"We have a lot of young talent in our province and this tour gives our youth the chance to discover new skills and opportunities they may never have imagined," said John Les, Minister of Small Business and Economic Development. "I am pleased this tour is going around the province to help discover the best in British Columbia's young athletes and engage communities in the ongoing benefits of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games."

PacificSport is dedicated to "Powering Sport Performance" by providing programs and services to give every advantage to our high performance athletes and coaches. For more information visit www.PacificSport.com.

2010 LegaciesNow works in partnership with community organizations, non-government organizations, the private sector and all levels of government to develop sustainable legacies in sport and recreation, arts, literacy, and volunteerism. 2010 LegaciesNow actively assists communities discover and create unique and inclusive social and economic opportunities leading up to, during and beyond the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. For more information about 2010 LegaciesNow, please visit www.2010LegaciesNow.com.

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Media Contacts:

Daniel Fontaine
Director of Communications
2010 LegaciesNow
604-839-8779

Stephane Delisle
Provincial Communications Coordinator
PacificSport
604-710-8298

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