- 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
