Canadian Olympic Team and Offsetters partner on carbon neutral team

2012 Canadian Olympic Team travel to London to be offset

VANCOUVER, June 12, 2012 /CNW/ - The 2012 Canadian Olympic Team's travel to London will be carbon neutral, the Canadian Olympic Committee and Offsetters announced today.

The COC is partnering with Offsetters, Canada's leading carbon management solutions provider, to offset the emissions associated with the Team's travel to London 2012, including athletes and their equipment, coaches, and mission staff.

"Along with sport and culture, environment is one of the three dimensions of the Olympic Movement and we are thrilled to continue our leadership role in this area," said Christopher Overholt, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the Canadian Olympic Committee. "The 2012 Canadian Olympic Team's travel to the 2012 Olympic Games will leave no carbon footprint, thanks to our partners at Offsetters."

"Building on our legacy of making Vancouver 2010 the first carbon neutral Olympic Games, Offsetters is proud to be partnering with the Canadian Olympic Committee to send a carbon neutral team to London," said James Tansey, CEO and Founder of Offsetters. "By supporting the Olympic Team, we hope to educate, engage and inspire Canadians to take action on climate change."

The Team's travel emissions are being offset with a mix of high-quality projects that promote the shift to a low-carbon future. All projects are developed to best in class standards from Canada and around the world.

"This is a great initiative by the Canadian Olympic Team and Offsetters," said three-time Olympic rower and 2008 Olympic silver medallist David Calder. "Canadians can take pride in knowing that the 2012 Canadian Olympic Team is carbon neutral."

"This is an issue that means a lot to athletes," said two-time Olympic snowboarder Justin Lamoureux. "We fly all over the world for training camps and competitions and we want to do everything we can to minimize our effect on the environment."

"The David Suzuki Foundation applauds the Canadian Olympic Committee's commitment to send a carbon neutral team to London this summer. Many of our athletes are first-hand witnesses to the effects of climate change on their sports and therefore represent much needed champions for the collective action needed to make our communities green and healthy," said Ian Bruce, Team Lead, Climate Change and Energy, David Suzuki Foundation.

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 Offsetters
Offsetters is Canada's leading carbon management solutions provider, based in Vancouver, BC. Founded in 2005, the company helps organizations and individuals understand, reduce, and offset their climate impact. Offsetters was the first official supplier of carbon offsets in the history of the Olympic movement with the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Offsetters is proud to assist leading organizations manage their carbon footprints. For more information and a full list of all of Offsetters clients and achievements, visit www.offsetters.ca.