Canada gets its game on! CBC Sports, ParticipACTION and True Sport present second annual Sports Day in Canada

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Sep 12, 2011, 07:30 ET

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TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Canadians of all ages are encouraged to celebrate sport, get active and participate in the second annual Sports Day in Canada, taking place this Saturday, September 17. The exciting, day-long celebration will cap off a week of local sporting events showcasing the power of sport at all levels in communities across Canada. CBC will carry all the festivities during a six-hour television and online broadcast starting at noon EST.

"The Government of Canada proudly supports the spirit of Sports Day in Canada - an active-living intiative bringing Canadians together in celebration of sport in their communities," said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). "Sports Day in Canada encourages sport participation at all levels, while promoting active, healthy communities.I applaud ParticipACTION, CBC Sports and True Sport for organizing this exciting initiative.

One of the goals of Sports Day in Canada is to get more Canadians embracing physical activity and the power of sport. While Canadians love supporting their athletes and teams, research shows that participation in sport and physical activity has declined in recent years. According to the Canadian Health Measures Survey released earlier this year, only 15 per cent of Canadian adults get the recommended levels of moderate- to vigorous-physical activity per week¹ and only seven per cent of children and youth (aged 5 to 17) get the recommended 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-physical activity each day.²

"We want to inspire Canadians to be more active, and sport does just that by getting people moving and engaged with others. Its language crosses barriers, making sport accessible to everyone," says Kelly Murumets, President and CEO, ParticipACTION. "Sports Day in Canada provides an opportunity to showcase a passion and love of sport - and we encourage all Canadians to celebrate with us on September 17."

In the week leading up to and including September 17, sport organizations, teams and clubs are hosting a blitz of Sports Day in Canada events, some of which will be attended by Olympians and Paralympians including Team Visa athletes, coaches and national-level athletes. From competitions and tournaments to meet-and-greets and try-it days, local sporting organizations and schools are opening their doors to Canadians, welcoming everyone in the community to participate, celebrate and highlight the power and importance of sport and physical activity in our daily lives.

"Sports Day in Canada is a terrific way to inspire Canadians to embrace sport and highlight the positive power of sport in every community across our nation," said Karri Dawson, Director, True Sport. "To unleash the positive power of sport we need to ensure a good sport experience; one that is fun, fair, inclusive and promotes personal excellence."

Canadians can also show their love and support for sport on September 16, national Jersey Day, by wearing a jersey, team or club uniform to school, work or play.

"Sport has dominated the majority of my life and the lessons it has taught me are invaluable," says Hayley Wickenheiser, three-time Olympic gold medalist, Canadian Women's Hockey team. "Supporting Canadian sport, in any way, from wearing a jersey, skipping rope or skating in your local rink in the off-season will help carry the message that anyone can participate and be active. Sport isn't seasonal; it's a part of daily life."

The CBC is the official broadcast sponsor of Sports Day in Canada and will celebrate this day of sport by profiling inspirational tales of Canadians and communities and showcase teams, organizations and clubs, both professional and amateur events, live, from several cities across the nation.

"CBC takes pride in telling stories that resonate across the country. Programs like Hockey Day and Sports Day provide an opportunity to tell a great local story to a large National audience," says Chris Irwin, Executive Producer of Sports Programming. "It is great working with True Sport and ParticipACTION again this year as we share the belief that sport builds communities, inspires people and keeps us all moving forward."

Get involved!

Visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca/ to watch Sports Day stories and videos or to search for or register related events in your area. Be on the lookout for elite athletes, politicians, Paralympians and Olympians who will make special appearances at some Sports Day in Canada events across the country
Wear a jersey, team or club uniform to work, school or play on Friday, September 16 to celebrate national Jersey Day and show your support for sport
Download the "Game On" App from itunes so you can "check" into events, earn badges for your profile and win Sports Day prizes if you top the weekly leader-board in September

Canadians on-air and online

Sports Day in Canada on CBC will begin broadcast at Noon ET/ 9am PT, September 17. Online coverage includes live streaming of the broadcast at cbcsports.ca/sportday. Gemini Award-winning host of CBC Sports Weekend Scott Russell will host the day live from Calgary, Alberta at Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. The six-hour broadcast will include live coverage of the Canada Rugby League Colonial Cup with Canada versus the United States in Markham, Ontario, the St. Mary's University versus Université de Montreal football game in Montreal, QC, and Championship five pin bowling with an East versus West final in Calgary, AB.

Features and community sporting events profiled in the September 17 CBC broadcasts will include:

Toronto, ON - A showcase of competitive and recreational gymnastics in the city's Distillery District with Gymnastics Canada
Montreal, QC - The top 16 male and female short-track speed skaters compete for the chance to represent Canada on the ISU World Cup Circuit
Prince George, BC -Sportz Xtravaganza - a free event for families to try different sports, including a selection of 2015 Canada Winter Games sports

About ParticipACTION

ParticipACTION is the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada. Originally established in 1971, ParticipACTION was re-launched in 2007 to help prevent the looming inactivity and obesity crisis that faces Canada. As a national not-for-profit organization solely dedicated to inspiring and supporting healthy and active living for Canadians, it works with its partners, which include sport, physical activity, recreation organizations, government and corporate sponsors, to inspire and support Canadians to move more. ParticipACTION is generously supported by Sport Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. For more information, visit www.participACTION.com.

About True Sport

True Sport is Canada's national movement for sport and community. Its goal is to help sport live up to its full potential as a public asset for Canada and Canadian society, making a significant contribution to the development of youth, the wellbeing of individuals, and quality of life in our communities. You can join True Sport at www.truesport.ca.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.

For a list of other local events taking place across the country, please visit http://sportsday.cbc.ca/. To download a fact sheet, please visit www.participACTION.com. For more information on Sports Day in Canada or to speak to a spokesperson, please contact:

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¹	Colley, Rachel, Didier Garriguet, Ian Janssen, Cora L. Craig, Janine Clarke and Mark S. Tremblay. Physical activity of Canadian adults: Accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003-XPE • Health Reports, Vol. 22, no. 1, March 2011.
²	Colley, Rachel, Didier Garriguet, Ian Janssen, Cora L. Craig, Janine Clarke and Mark S. Tremblay. Physical activity of Canadian children and youth: Accelerometer results from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. Statistics Canada, Catalogue no. 82-003-XPE • Health Reports, Vol. 22, no. 1, March 2011.