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VANCOUVER – The City of
Kamloops, known as the Tournament Capital of Canada, will host an international
workshop called “Fairness in Sport” this fall where anti-doping volunteers will
be trained in the latest technological breakthroughs and fine-tune procedures
for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The announcement was made today in Kamloops by Premier
Gordon Campbell, Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar and
“Nothing is more integral in sport than fairness and sportsmanship,
and this workshop will help ensure that athletes who have dedicated a lifetime
of training are competing on a level playing field,” said Premier Campbell. “As
the Tournament Capital of Canada, Kamloops is recognized across Canada and
internationally as a leader in sports excellence and tournament hosting. This
conference shows that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
belong to every community in British Columbia.”
Over 200 volunteers will attend VANOC’s Fairness in Sport
workshop, from Nov. 19 to 22, held in the heart of British Columbia’s southern
Interior by VANOC. The participants will include: representatives from the
Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), volunteer doping control officers
(DCO) and blood collection officers (BCO). The workshop will focus on specific
anti-doping requirements mandated by the IOC and the IPC.
“By delivering a state-of-the-art doping control program at the Games,
all athletes can compete on a level playing field while showcasing their
extraordinary athletic achievements to the world,” said Furlong. “This
workshop is key to our anti-doping strategy and the City of Kamloops is
playing an important role in preparing our workforce and ensuring the success
of the 2010 Winter Games.
The four-day conference will provide an investment and
benefit to the local tourism industry in the south central B.C. city, including
300 room nights booked, meeting space rentals and food services.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the world to our city and help
anti-doping experts prepare for the upcoming 2010 Winter Games,” said Milobar.
“As one of Canada’s premier hosts for sports tournaments, training camps and
national and international competitions, our city embodies the spirit of fair
play and excellence in athletics the Games always showcase.”
The workshop is being sponsored, in part, by the BC Road
Builders Association and Heavy Construction Association.
“Our
members are pleased to sponsor the Fairness in Sport workshop in partnership
with VANOC,” said association president Jack Davidson. “The anti-doping message
of this workshop aligns with our association’s value of having safe, drug-free
work environments on all construction sites and also allows us to show our
support for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”
VANOC Anti-Doping Program Background
The Kamloops conference builds on workshops held over the
past year by VANOC to prepare its anti-doping team for the Vancouver 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Under the authority and direction of the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC),
VANOC’s 2010 Winter Games anti-doping program has two primary objectives: the
implementation of a state-of-the-art testing program to detect and deter doping
behaviour, and the execution of an extensive education program for athletes and
their support teams about their rights and responsibilities regarding
anti-doping rules and procedures.
At the 2010 Winter Games, an estimated 600 athlete
chaperones, blood collection officers, specialized doping control officers, and
contracted laboratory staff will conduct upwards of 2,000 tests, including
pre-competition and in-competition urine and blood tests, on athletes competing
at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February and about 450 tests at the
Paralympic Winter Games.
In the 2008/2009 season, VANOC’s anti-doping team
successfully tested approximately 500 athletes at sport events such as figure
skating, biathlon and alpine skiing, held at Olympic and Paralympic competition
venues. An anti-doping outreach booth was also featured at athlete hotels to
provide information on World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) educational resources
and the Vancouver 2010 Anti-Doping Program.
The anti-doping laboratory for the Games will be located
at the Richmond Olympic Oval and operated by Institut national de la recherche
scientifique.
About the City of Kamloops
Incorporated in 1893, the City of Kamloops is nestled in
a lush scenic valley at the confluence of the North Thompson River and South
Thompson River in the heart of British Columbia’s southern Interior. Kamloops
is the third-largest city by population and economic prosperity outside the
Lower Mainland, with about 85,000 people residing within its municipal
boundaries. It is also the transportation hub of B.C.’s southern Interior.
Excellent highway and rail connections, as well as pan-Western and
international air service link Kamloops to provincial, national and global
markets.
About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing,
financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic
Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver
and Whistler from Feb. 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the
Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Please visit www.vancouver2010.com for more
information.
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contact: |
Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177 |
VANOC Communications 604 403-1627 greg_alexis@vancouver2010.com |
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