ICBC's 2010 Winter Games licence plate sales top 175,000

Customers can win Paralympic tickets in ICBC's Tickets to 2010 promotion

VANCOUVER , Jan. 19 /CNW/ - With less than one month to go, more than 175,000 British Columbians are now proudly displaying their support for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games by getting Behind the Drive with a special edition 2010 Winter Games licence plate from ICBC.

"These phenomenal sales really demonstrate the passion and enthusiasm British Columbians have towards the 2010 Winter Games, which are now just 24 days away," said ICBC's Jeff Schulz , vice president, strategic marketing. "The Behind the Drive program has provided a way for British Columbians to show their Olympic spirit and all profits go directly to supporting the 2010 Winter Games and Canadian athletes."

ICBC customers who still want to display their support for the 2010 Winter Games can purchase the plates from any Autoplan broker for the remainder of this year. The 2010 Winter Games licence plates are available for an initial fee of $35 (annual renewal fee of $25 until 2012) and, as an official provincial licence plate, can continue to be displayed on your vehicle even when the 2010 Winter Games are over.

In addition, any ICBC customers who purchase a 2010 Winter Games licence plate from now until February 7 will be thanked for their continued support by being entered into four weekly draws to win four event tickets to the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. ICBC previously rewarded plate purchasers with a draw to win 150 pairs of Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games event tickets.

Motorists all over British Columbia are showing their support with approximately 119,000 plates sold in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, 21,000 sold on Vancouver Island, 27,000 sold in the Southern Interior and 11,000 sold in Northern B.C.

"The success of this plate program has been remarkable," said Dave Cobb , executive vice president & deputy CEO at VANOC. "These licence plates have allowed British Columbians to showcase themselves as proud supporters of the Games and athletes."

ICBC launched the Behind the Drive program in April 2007 . The mountain-scene depicted on the plates is that of Mount Garibaldi Park located 13km north of Squamish, and was chosen to capture the spirit of the 2010 Winter Games while showcasing one of the most scenic areas between Vancouver and Whistler.

To learn more about ICBC's 2010 Winter Games licence plates, how to win event tickets and to read about some of B.C.'s Winter Olympic and Paralympic athletes, visit behindthedrive.com. Additional information about 2010 Winter Games licence plates is available at local Autoplan broker offices or at www.icbc.com (http://www.icbc.com/registration/reg_spec_lic_plates_opp.asp).

For further information: Media contact: Adam Grossman, [phone]