Graduates will make their debut following
alumni gold medal wins in Tokyo
TORONTO, Jan. 25, 2022 /CNW/ - RBC Training Ground struck
gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic
Games when alumni Avalon Wasteneys
and Kelsey Mitchell became Olympic
champions. Now, as program graduates prepare to make their debut at
the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter
Games, RBC Training Ground resumes its search for the next
generation of Olympic talent.
RBC Training Ground is a nation-wide talent identification
program dedicated to finding and funding Canada's future Olympians. Several athletes
who were discovered and financially supported through RBC Training
Ground made their debut at Tokyo
2020, four of whom brought home medals including: Avalon Wasteneys (Rowing); Jerome Blake (Athletics); Kelsey Mitchell (Track Cycling); and
Lauriane Genest (Track Cycling).
RBC Training Ground graduates competing at Beijing 2022 include World Cup gold medallist
Marion Thénault (Freestyle Skiing - Aerials), Miha Fontaine (Freestyle Skiing – Aerials)
Mike Evelyn (Bobsleigh),
Ryan Sommer (Bobsleigh) and
Sara Villani (Bobsleigh).
Additionally, 18 Beijing-bound RBC Olympians will be program
ambassadors, using the spotlight of the Games to encourage athletes
in their hometowns to participate and launch their own Olympic
dreams through RBC Training Ground.
Year seven of RBC Training Ground will return this spring with
plans for free in-person qualifying events across the country,
guided by local health and safety protocols. The virtual testing
format will remain open to athletes who are unable to join in
person. Program accessibility, diversity, and inclusion will
continue to be prioritized.
At each qualifying event participants will perform speed,
strength, power, and endurance benchmark testing in front of
National Sport Organizations. The top athletes will be selected as
RBC Future Olympians who receive funding, mentorship, and other
resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.
Registration and the most up-to-date event information for all
local RBC Training Ground events is available
at RBCTrainingGround.ca. We continue to monitor the
situation surrounding COVID-19, consulting with health authorities.
The health and wellness of everyone involved in RBC Training
Ground, and of our communities as a whole, remains our top
priority.
Since its inception in 2016, the program has tested 10,000
athletes across Canada, with over
1,300 athletes being identified by National Sport Organizations as
having Olympic potential (many in a sport they had never
considered). National Sport Organization program partners in 2022
include: Bobsleigh Skeleton Canada; Canoe Kayak Canada; Cycling
Canada Cyclisme; Freestyle Canada, Luge Canada; Rowing Canada
Aviron, Rugby Canada; Speed Skating Canada; and Volleyball Canada –
all looking to identify new talent for development.
RBC Training Ground was developed in partnership with the
Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Foundation, with
support from the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute
Network. As the longest standing corporate partner of Team Canada,
RBC is proud to celebrate its 75th year proudly
championing the Olympic Movement.
Quotes:
"We are thrilled to launch year seven of RBC Training Ground in
our 75th year as a long-standing partner of the Canadian
Olympic team. What began as an idea in 2016, has since become a
cornerstone in championing the dreams of young people and
developing the next generation of Team Canada. Building off the
incredible success of Tokyo 2020,
we look forward to supporting the RBC Olympians and RBC Training
Ground athletes competing in Beijing 2022, and continuing to discover new
athletes with Olympic potential."
- Mary DePaoli, Executive Vice-President and Chief
Marketing Officer, RBC
"RBC Training Ground is a gamechanger and a real life example of
how a Team Canada partner can change the fate of young Canadian
athletes. This amazing program quite literally makes Olympic dreams
a reality. We are delighted to see the program returning for its
seventh year and excited about the prospects of RBC Training Ground
graduates competing at Beijing
2022 in just a few weeks. We know how Team Canada inspires
Canadians to Be Olympic, and we strongly encourage young
Canadians to take advantage of this free opportunity to kickstart
their campaigns for Paris 2024,
Milano Cortina 2026 and beyond, so they can then inspire the next
generation of champions."
- Jacquie Ryan, Chief Brand and Commercial
Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee and CEO Canadian Olympic
Foundation
"RBC Training Ground is designed to help identify and support
the next generation of Olympic talents, and provide athletes with
the high-performance sport resources needed to achieve their podium
dreams. While some participants are looking to re-energize or boost
an Olympic dream in a sport they are already pursuing, others
participate with the hope of being discovered and directed toward
an Olympic sport they may have never considered. But they all rely
on raw athleticism and determination to attract the attention of
our sport partners and are excited to see where this program can
take them."
- Evan MacInnis, Technical Director,
RBC Training Ground
"We are so happy to see the continuation of this groundbreaking
program. RBC Training Ground has provided a conduit to connect
athletes and sport like never before in Canada. The program's unique concept and
ongoing support of athletes has clearly brought Freestyle Canada
and the entire Canadian sport system some amazing future
stars!"
- Peter Judge, CEO, Freestyle Canada
"It was at an RBC Training Ground event that I discovered I
might be a good fit for aerial skiing. After receiving RBC Future
Olympian funding to pursue the sport, I've never looked
back. I'm living proof that this program helps make Olympic
dreams a reality."
- Marion Thénault,
World Cup gold medallist and RBC Olympian (Freestyle Skiing –
Aerials)
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a
global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led
approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from
the 87,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights
to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our
clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank, and one of the largest
in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified
business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional
experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn
more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
About the Canadian Olympic Committee
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of Team
Canada'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. 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.
SOURCE RBC