Premier Signs Contributing Territory Agreement as NWT Joins Vancouver 2010 Team
R(16)166 - Thursday, April 02, 2009
The agreement formalizes a number of areas for cooperation and provides opportunities for the Northwest Territories to be promoted and celebrated at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, helping to make these truly for all Canadians in all regions.
“The 2010 Winter Games provides a remarkable international forum for us to showcase our part of Canada to the world,” Premier Roland said. “We will use it to raise the profile of our territory’s natural beauty and riches, provide learning and leadership opportunities to our youth and showcase our performers, artists and boundless potential. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to demonstrate to the world why Canada’s Northwest Territories is a great place to live, work and visit.”
The Northwest Territories has been developing a variety of projects as part of its participation in the 2010 Winter Games and is taking a pan-territorial approach with the Yukon and Nunavut to promote Canada’s North, showcase northern culture and history and provide opportunities for northerners to take part in the Games.
“The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are a celebration of all that our great country has to offer,” said John Furlong, Chief Executive Office for VANOC. “We are extremely pleased to welcome the Northwest Territories as the newest addition to the Contributing Province/Territory Program. This partnership is an exciting opportunity for the story of this region and its rich heritage to be told on the world stage at what will truly be ‘Canada’s Games’.”
VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program (CPTP) enables the Northwest Territories to:
- Organize an NWT Day at the 2010 Winter Games to promote our territory
- Participate in the Cultural Olympiad, which will include opportunities for NWT artists
- Promote tourism, trade and investment
- Encourage Aboriginal participation in the Games and preceding events
- Enhance involvement in the NWT portion of the torch relays for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
- Access VANOC promotional materials
- Use the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and Own the Podium 2010 logos
- Promote educational and volunteer opportunities relating to sport and culture, and encourage healthy lifestyles.
About the Contributing Province/Territory Program
VANOC’s Contributing Province/Territory Program (CPTP) offers a structured avenue for provinces and territories to participate in the 2010 Winter Games. Under the CPTP, signatory provinces and territories receive a package of benefits that create a close association with the Games, similar to those of corporate sponsors. In return, participating provinces and territories make a financial contribution towards the success of Canadian athletes in 2010 through the Own the Podium 2010 program; culture and arts, through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad and directly, to staging successful Games in 2010. VANOC developed this new program in response to interest demonstrated by Canada’s provinces and territories outside of British Columbia to allow for greater involvement in the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
About the Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a land of breathtaking beauty, untold resources and exciting opportunities created by people of diverse and unique cultures, and differing origins, all of who contribute to its vibrancy and colour. Our environment is one of the last unspoiled wildernesses on earth. The Northwest Territories has a promising future entrenched in a traditional past. We have taken the lessons of our ancestors and put them to work in a modern world. Diamonds, oil and gas, tourism, clean energy: these are just some of the boundless opportunities Northerners are investing in today.
About VANOC
VANOC’s government partners provide funding, infrastructure, essential service support and management services to the 2010 Winter Games, which will contribute to the lasting economic, sport, cultural and social legacies for citizens and communities throughout Canada. VANOC’s government partners include the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver and the Resort Municipality of Whistler. The NWT joins other members of VANOC’s CPTP, which, to date, include Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon, Saskatchewan and Prince Edward Island. VANOC’s Venue Cities are Richmond, Surrey and West Vancouver. VANOC has also signed an memorandum of understanding (MOU) with each Canadian province and territory. VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. To find out more, visit www.vancouver2010.com.
For more information contact:
Drew Williams
Cabinet Communications
Office of the Premier
Government of the Northwest Territories
(867) 669-2304
VANOC Communications
Katie Green
Media Relations
VANOC
(778) 227-6074
