VANCOUVER – The Canadian Olympic Team representing the country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games August 5th-21st features a large percentage of Canadian athletes who are either residing or training in British Columbia.
 
Of the 313 athletes on Team Canada, a total of 142 have a connection to British Columbia, with 68 listing a hometown in the province and another 74 benefiting from services provided by Canadian Sport Institute Pacific or a PacificSport Centre in BC.
 
“We’re so proud of the opportunity to collaborate, serve and innovate in tandem with Canada’s national sports federations and our national and provincial sport partners and stakeholders to help support Team Canada at Rio 2016,” said Wendy Pattenden, CEO Canadian Sport Institute Pacific. “With 128 (41%) affiliated athletes designated for programs and services through Canadian Sport Institute Pacific and PacificSport Centres, we’re very proud of our association with Team Canada and the country’s finest athletes from coast-to-coast.”
 
Pattenden noted the fact that an impressive 45% of Canada’s Olympic Team is linked to British Columbia, even though the province only makes up 13% of the Canadian population.
 
“There are many factors which come together to make British Columbia such an attractive training hub for Canadian athletes and it’s only grown in significance over the years,” said Pattenden. “Everything from climate and training facilities – both natural and constructed – to infrastructure and accessibility give British Columbia and training hubs such as Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler such a strong position on the national sport landscape. I truly believe one of the key factors revolves around the quality of sport science expertise and coaching that is available here in BC and we’re very proud to be part of that.”
 
Pattenden said the Rio 2016 Games are yet another opportunity for Canadian Sport Institute Pacific to appreciate the growth and development of Canadian athletes and the sports they represent, along with the role the CSI Pacific team plays in working with the respective national sport federations, government partners and other stakeholders in support of both Summer and Winter Games and other major international competitions.
 
“Collaborate. Serve. Innovate — those three words not only make up our mantra, they inspire us into action — day-in, day-out — as we strive to deliver the resources and the advanced support that our country’s leading athletes and coaches require to reach their fullest potential,” said Pattenden. “In recent months – ever since London 2012 for that matter — we’ve been entirely committed to giving summer athletes and coaches every opportunity for success at Rio 2016. After four years of triumphs and defeats, injury and recovery — not to mention thousands of air miles and countless hours of training and hard work — Canada’s Olympic athletes and coaches are finally on their way to Rio 2016.”
 
The torch of the Olympiad gets lit Friday, August 5th, at the Maracana Stadium in what should kick off a fascinating two weeks of competition.
 
“First and foremost, we could not provide these athletes with every advantage to compete in Rio without the support of our government partners at the federal and provincial levels,” said Pattenden. “We could not do what we do without the commitment of the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Sport and Cultural Development of the Government of British Columbia. The support of Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Assembly in BC who champion the role of sport and performance in society — is truly a difference maker to both the current and next generations of athletes.”
 
Pattenden added that it is an honour for Canadian Sport Institute Pacific to collaborate with National Sport Organization partners to provide expertise, service and support to their athletes. Among the highlights this summer will be the fact that Rio 2016 marks the inaugural Olympic Games for Rugby Sevens, where Canada’s women will be sure to thrill as they go for gold. 
 
“We can’t wait to watch these athletes and coaches on the world’s biggest stage and are very proud to work with them throughout the Olympic cycle,” said Pattenden, pointing to the role of Canadian Sport Institute Pacific as a contributing member of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network and here in British Columbia, the viaSport Regional Alliance.
 
“We know this is a team effort from coast-to-coast and acknowledge the support of Sport Canada, viaSport, Own The Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee, along with the Coaches Association of Canada,” said Pattenden.
 
Many Canadian Sport Institute Pacific staff will be working with these athletes and their sport governing bodies at Rio, with 12 sport scientists from six different disciplines working at the Games, including two staff members working as part of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Mission Staff for Performance Analysis. CSI Pacific will also be represented in the broadcast booths, where Rowing NextGen Coach Barney Williams will serve as an analyst on CBC’s broadcast team. The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will mark the largest contingent of Canadian Sport Institute Pacific staff ever at a Summer Games. About Canadian Sport Institute Pacific: Powering Performance. Inspiring Excellence.

Offering world-class Olympic and Paralympic training environments in Vancouver, Whistler and Victoria, Canadian Sport Institute Pacific (www.csipacific.ca) is committed to Powering Performance. Inspiring Excellence. Working with national sport organizations and fueled by our national and provincial partners such as Sport Canada, viaSport, Own the Podium, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Coaches Association of Canada, we are driven by our mantra to Collaborate. Serve. Innovate. Our team of sport scientists and medical experts provide leading edge programs and services to athletes and coaches to ensure they have every advantage to win medals for Canada.
 
For more information, please contact:
 
Lance Doucet
Coordinator, Communications
Canadian Sport Institute Pacific
250.220.2521
ldoucet@csipacific.ca
 
Wendy Pattenden
CEO
Canadian Sport Institute Pacific
604.833.9248
wpattenden@csipacific.ca