Bell strengthening Canadian Olympic connection

Continuing leadership with four more years of support for Canadian Olympic Team

LONDON, UK, July 31, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian telecommunication leader Bell Canada is extending its support for Canadian Olympic Athletes beyond London 2012 for an additional four years, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced today.

"Bell is with us in everything we do and we could not ask for a better Partner," said Marcel Aubut, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee from a press conference at Canada Olympic House in London, UK. "We are very excited to announce our ongoing relationship with Bell, a key member of Canada's Olympic family."

"Bell is proud to renew our longstanding commitment to the Canadian Olympic Committee, and we're especially excited that the Canadian Olympic Committee will join Bell in making mental health a cornerstone of its philanthropic focus, bringing the conversation about mental health to schools across Canada," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE. "Bell is also pleased to extend Bell Athletes Connect, what we believe is the only program of its kind by a telecom sponsor worldwide that provides nationally carded athletes with free mobile services. Bell is happy to support our Canadian athletes by enabling them to stay in close touch with their support network - family, friends, fans, coaches, and fellow athletes."

The agreement encompasses several components:

The Bell Athletes Connect program will continue to be strengthened under COC's management to help athletes stay connected with coaches, families and with Canadians.

Bell is joining with the Canadian Olympic Team in the construction of a social media delivery platform to help athletes to connect with athletes and with Canadians, using the power of Bell technology.

Bell and the COC will also join forces to heighten the conversation around mental health through the Canada Olympic Schools Program and other Canadian Olympic Team initiatives.

In addition, Bell will make a targeted contribution through programs which aim to strengthen high performance sport in Canada.

"Corporate support is so important to an athlete and to the sport community on a whole," said 2008 Olympic gold medallist rower Adam Kreek. "Plus, the Bell Athletes Connect program allows athletes to keep in touch with their families from the road. That's the kind of thing you can't put a price tag on."

The renewed sponsorship agreement extends the current agreement to 2016, continuing to deliver essential support for Canadian Olympic athletes heading to Sochi 2014, through to Rio 2016 and beyond.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE 

The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of the Canadian Olympic Team's podium success and advances Olympic values in Canada. 

Independent and predominantly privately funded, the Canadian Olympic Committee delivers resources that Canada's elite athletes need to perform at their best and give their everything every day. 

The backbone of Canada's Olympic movement, the Canadian Olympic Committee works with National Sport Federations to prepare the Team for the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Pan American Games. 

By sharing our athletes' stories, we inspire all Canadians through the power of sport: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

ABOUT BELL

A Premier National Partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bell is delivering the broadest range of live and on-demand content from the London 2012 Olympic Games across its broadband networks to smartphones, tablets, TVs and computer screens, getting Canadians closer to the Games than ever before. For more information, please visit Bell.ca/London2012

Canada's largest communications company, Bell provides consumers and business with solutions to all their communications needs: Bell Mobility wireless, high-speed Bell Internet, Bell Satellite TV and Bell Fibe TV, Bell Home Phone local and long-distance, and Bell Business Markets IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio and digital media, including CTV, Canada's #1 television network, and the country's most-watched specialty channels. The Bell Mental Health Initiative is a multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada via the Bell Let's Talk anti-stigma campaign and support for community care, research and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE).

SOURCE: Bell Canada