- Official airline of Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams
- Transporting athletes for the city's bid events and loaning experienced executive expertise to the Calgary 2026 Bid
Corporation
MONTREAL, Nov. 5, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced
today it is proudly supporting the City of Calgary's bid for the 2026 Olympic and Paralympic
Winter Games.
"Air Canada has a long association with Canada's Olympic and
Paralympic athletes and particularly at home Games, starting with being the Official Airline at Calgary's highly successful 1988
Olympic Winter Games. We are tremendously proud to fly the flag as we fully support the city's bid for the 2026 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games. On behalf of our 30,000 worldwide employees, and especially our team of 1,900 employees who live and
work in Calgary, we wish Calgarians the very best in their pursuit of these Games," said Calin
Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada.
"Our support started in April of this year with a firm commitment in writing to the City of
Calgary of our support for the bid. To further demonstrate Air Canada's support, one of our senior executives,
Renee Smith-Valade, who has direct experience from eight previous Olympic Games – including both
the Calgary 1988 and Vancouver 2010 Games – has been temporarily seconded to work with the Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation through
the plebiscite and initial preparation of the international bid phase, and we are assisting in transporting athletes for special
events related to Calgary's bid."
"A partner of the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games and a longtime supporter of Team Canada, Air Canada is engrained in the
Olympic movement in our country. No matter where in the world we have asked them to be, Air Canada has brought our athletes there
and back, with the best care and service. Both COC and Air Canada know that hosting the 2026 Winter Games represents an
incredible opportunity to welcome the world to our country," said Robin Brudner, Interim CEO &
Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee.
"Actions speak volumes: Air Canada, Canada's flag carrier, stepped up early on to strongly
encourage this bid to go ahead, and now, has stepped up with expertise, travel and employee engagement as we lead up to
Canada's Games, Calgary's choice. We're grateful for Air Canada's support for the 2026
Calgary Bid Corporation and their ongoing support for Team Canada," said Scott Hutcheson, Chairman
of the Board, Calgary 2026 Bid Corporation.
Key facts about Air Canada's involvement in the Olympic movement include:
- Official Airline for the two previous home Games: Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the Calgary 1988
Olympic Winter Games
- Official transportation provider for Canadian Olympic teams at Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Sochi 2014, Rio
2016, Pyeongchang 2018, and Tokyo 2020
- Proud supporter of the successful bids and organizing committees for:
-
- the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- the Calgary 1988 Olympic Winter Games
- the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games
- the Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games
- the Winnipeg 1999 Pan Am Games
- Air Canada also sponsored bids for the Quebec City 2002 Olympic Winter Games and the
Toronto 2008 Olympic Games.
- Created the Altitude Podium Program to provide qualified athletes 35K status and access to
International Maple Leaf lounges while competing abroad
- Sponsored the outdoor area, Air Canada Flight Deck, available to the public, at the Canadian Olympic House in
PyeongChang
- Air Canada's "Our Time" ad campaign supported the athletes by paying tribute to the
unique Canadian values that make us all so proud to be a part of this country. Five high-profile athletes featured in the ad
are figure skaters Patrick Chan, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir; hockey player Marie-Philip Poulin; and freestyle skier (halfpipe)
Cassie Sharpe.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international
airline serving more than 217 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20
largest airlines in the world and in 2017 served more than 48 million customers. Air Canada
provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 56 in the United States and 98 in Europe, the Middle
East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico,
Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive
air transportation network serving 1,317 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only
international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to
independent U.K. research firm Skytrax, which also named Air Canada the 2018 Best Airline in North
America. For more information, please visit: aircanada.com/media, follow @AirCanada on Twitter
and join Air Canada on Facebook.
Internet: aircanada.com
SOURCE Air Canada
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