TELUS partners with the Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program

RICHMOND, BC, Dec. 20 /CNW/ - Today the Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program announced a new partnership with TELUS to ensure a wide variety of sport and fitness activities are available to community members of all ages and skill sets. 

"What we do has the power to change lives, and it is partners like TELUS that help us bring that change to as many people as possible," said John Mills, General Manager of the Oval. "Our corporate partnerships not only help fund community programs, they provide the necessary training, coaching and facility resources that Canadian athletes require to compete at the international level."

The Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program is one of many local community and environmental programs TELUS supports.

"Grassroots programs like the Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program are critically important to Canada, and we are proud to support them." said Steve Podborski, TELUS Director of Community Sport. A Canadian World Cup downhill ski racer who made his professional debut at the age of 17 and later won bronze at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Podborski understands first-hand the value of access to sport for youth. "Programs like this help our youth stay active by giving them a place to experience the excitement and camaraderie of sport.  It also gives elite athletes a place to perfect their skills and become the role models for healthy lifestyles our youth need.

In addition to the partnership, TELUS will be the presenting sponsor of the 2011 Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program Summer Sport Camps & Guides. These instructional camps provide fun and safe recreational environments for children, with high participant-to-leader ratios so that each child can get the maximum benefit from personal attention.

"We are proud to welcome TELUS as our new partner in the Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program through which they will help support our summer camp program," said City of Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "TELUS is a great fit for Richmond and the Community Legacy Program as they share our mutual commitment to excellence and to outstanding community service."

Community Legacy Program partners have exclusivity rights within the Oval, as well as rights to signage, advertising, website and special event presence. The facility name will remain the Richmond Olympic Oval. Additional Community Legacy Program partners will be announced over the coming months.

Speaking at today's event were His Worship Mayor Malcolm Brodie, City of Richmond; John Mills, General Manager of the Richmond Olympic Oval; Pete Quevillon, KidSport BC; and Steve Podborski, TELUS Director of Sport Marketing.

About the Richmond Olympic Oval
The Richmond Olympic Oval is a breathtaking venue on the banks of the Fraser River and winner of the Institution of Structural Engineers top award for Sports or Leisure Structures. Home to long track speed skating during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the Oval offers an inspiring environment for all ages and skill levels to progress towards their own personal podiums.

About the Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program
The Richmond Olympic Oval Community Legacy Program provides sport, health and fitness activities, skill development pathways and role-model leadership to all ages and skill levels, contributing to the improved health and wellness of the community and to the international success of athletes wearing the maple leaf.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, T.A; NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $9.7 billion of annual revenue and 12.1 million customer connections including 6.9 million wireless subscribers, 3.8 million wireline network access lines and 1.2 million Internet subscribers and 266,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services including data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, entertainment and video.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $185 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 3.5 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Nine TELUS Community Boards across Canada lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition. For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

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Media Contact:

Aran Kay
Asst Manager, Communications
& Brand Development
Richmond Olympic Oval
Tel: [phone]
Cell: 604.346.7697
Email: [email protected]