Canadian Olympic Committee Establishes NEW Direction for Sport Services

Appoints Veteran Leader Caroline Assalian to NEW Role of Executive Managing Director, Sport/NSF Relations

TORONTO, Aug. 4 /CNW/ - Canadian Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer, Jean Dupré, today announced the appointment of Caroline Assalian to the newly created role of Executive Managing Director, Sport and National Sport Federation (NSF) Relations.

Reporting to Dupré, Assalian, a more than twenty year veteran of the Canadian Olympic Committee, will be responsible for the development and execution of the COC's annual strategic plan for Sport. Her role will focus on providing proactive levels of service and support to all NSF's in cooperation with the sales, marketing and communications departments. She will continue to lead on all COC matters related to Olympic, Pan American and Youth Olympic Games preparation and at-Games operations while taking the active lead on projects such as Canada Olympic House and the COC's Family and Friends Program. In addition, Assalian will provide leadership to all matters of sport and integration with the services provided by the respective NSF's and in coordination with the Own the Podium program.

In her previous role as Executive Director, Olympic Preparation and Games, Assalian and her team of professionals established Canada's reputation for developing and executing a best-in-class delivery for the NSF's and athletes they serve, related to preparation for the Olympic Games experience. Assalian will now offer her leadership and expertise to the sport community more broadly as the senior executive charged with defining a new strategic direction for the Canadian Olympic Committee, serving the athletes, coaches and the national governing bodies they represent.

"Caroline and her team have built a strong reputation for delivering world-class services to our National Sport Federations," said COC Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General Jean R. Dupré, "but we must go further to support the needs and goals of the sport community. A new focus is required. A vision that is rooted in innovation, partnership and new initiatives that when undertaken together can elevate Canada's position as a perennial leader, on and off the field of play, within the Olympic movement the world over. Caroline's appointment to this new role is another positive step for our organization and our sport community in this direction."

Assalian has offered her leadership to the sport community and to the Canadian Olympic Committee for more than 20 years. She is widely regarded internationally having been selected by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), a working committee that reviews and provides recommendations to the IOC on all Olympic Games related matters. In 2009, she was selected by the Pan American Sport Organization (PASO) to sit on its three-person Technical Committee that advises PASO and the Pan Am Organizing Committee on all technical matters related to the organization of the Pan Am Games.

"I am excited and honored to assume this new role," said Assalian. "Our goal is to be among the very best sporting nations in the world. To do this we must bring stronger focus to the day to day needs of all of our NSF partners and those of the athletes and coaches we serve. This approach to partnership is essential to our success now and in the future."

About the Canadian Olympic Committee

The Canadian Olympic Committee is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada's involvement in the Olympic Movement, including Canada's participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For news and information, visit the COC website at www.olympic.ca and find the team on both Facebook (Canadian Olympic Team) and Twitter (@CDN OlympicTeam).

For further information: Isabelle Hodge, Canadian Olympic Committee, Office: 416-324-4122, Cell: 289-388-6419, [email protected]