2019 introduces seven new locations and first-ever National Final
RBC Training Ground, a program developed in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), Canadian Olympic Foundation, CBC Sports, and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN), continues to enhance its search for Canada’s future Olympians.
Entering its fourth year, the RBC Training Ground program is a nation-wide talent identification and athlete-funding program dedicated to finding and supporting the next generation of Canadian Olympians. To date, the program has tested over 5,500 athletes at 71 free local events in 35 different communities across 10 provinces.
“Heading into its fourth year, RBC Training Ground continues to create incredible opportunities for young Canadian athletes. By partnering with eight National Sport Organizations and the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network, RBC continues to fill a gap within our sport model – finding new talent, expanding the pool of next generation athletes, and financially supporting top performers,” said Eric Myles, Chief Sport Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee.
In 2019, RBC Training Ground is excited to announce the first-ever National Final hosted in Calgary, Alberta. This national event will bring together the top 100 high-potential athletes from across the country to compete for funding and consideration from Canada’s National Sport Organizations (NSOs). Based on the National Final results, and sport-specific testing results, up to 30 high-performing athletes will be selected as RBC Future Olympians – receiving funding and resources to pursue their Olympic dreams.
RBC Training Ground will also add seven new qualifier locations to the lineup, including a premier event in Whitehorse, Yukon. Other new qualifier locations include Waterloo, Ontario; Trois-Rivières, Quebec; Regina, Saskatchewan; Thompson, Manitoba; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Boucherville, Quebec. The national search will visit 34 Canadian communities overall – giving even more young Canadian athletes the opportunity to explore their Olympic potential.
Participating NSOs include: Athletics Canada, Freestyle Canada, Canada Snowboard, Speed Skating Canada, Cycling Canada, Rowing Canada, Rugby Canada, and Canoe Kayak Canada.
“The most exciting aspect of the RBC Training Ground program is that we are seeing athletes emerging as national and international performers in sports that some of them would not have considered if it were not for RBC Training Ground. The strength of collaboration across the eight partner NSOs, and the Canadian Sport Institute Network, has definitely been enhanced through this program, creating a much more aligned sport system in Canada,” said Kurt Innes, National Technical Lead, COPSI Network.
Participating athletes are tested on speed, strength, power and endurance in front of some of the top coaches and sport officials in Canada.
Registration and event information for all local RBC Training Ground events is available at RBCTrainingGround.ca.
RBC Training Ground is hosting 5 events here in BC in 2019, and you can find the BC event calendar below.
Online registration is live and athletes can register here.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 84,000+ employees who bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 16 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 34 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how atrbc.com/community- sustainability.
About COC
The Canadian Olympic Committee leads the achievement of Team Canada’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. 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 the Canadian Olympic Foundation
Changing the world through the power of sport. It’s what we do. The Canadian Olympic Foundation believes that everyone is capable of greatness – they just need to be given the opportunity. As the official charitable organization of Team Canada, it’s our responsibility to create that opportunity for all of our Canadian athletes. We raise funds to support the Canadian Olympic Team, next generation, high-performance athletes, and the Canadian sport system. Daily training, year-round coaching, proper nutrition, national and international competitions, and state-of-the-art equipment are all essential in propelling our athletes to the top of the podium.With the support of our donors, we enable Canadians and Canadian athletes to strive for greatness. We empower our country to come together to do something remarkable: to bring the world to its feet.
About CBC Sports
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s Olympic Network through 2024 and Canada’s Paralympic Network through 2020. The national public broadcaster is committed to showcasing Canadian and international athletes and sports across all platforms under the CBC Sports and Hockey Night in Canada brands, including on television, online at cbcsports.ca and via the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices. CBC Sports prides itself on telling the story of the high-performance athlete’s journey every step of the way, ensuring Canadians always know the people who represent them before they see them atop the podium.
About COPSIN
The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSI Network) is a key contributor to Canada’s world leading Olympic and Paralympic podium performances. Our Mission is to provide a world-class, multi-sport daily training environment for athletes and coaches through expert leadership, services, and programs.
The COPSI Network provides technical expertise to support the execution of the RBC Training Ground program. Our team of sport experts lead the delivery of the technical aspects of the program through organization, set-up, execution and the data analysis required for Canada’s national sport organizations (NSOs) to successfully identify athletes with Olympic potential. Working with our partner NSOs, the COPSI Network also plays an advisory role in establishing testing protocols and facilitating athletes being selected for the sports that best suit their individual athletic abilities. The six participating members of the Network (Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, Canadian Sport Centre Manitoba, Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, Institut national du sport du Québec, and Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic) are key collaborators in hosting and promoting RBC Training Ground.
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Yao, Senior Manager, Brand Communications
RBC
Tel: 647-618-3792
Email: michelle.yao@rbc.com
Josh Su, Specialist, Public Relations
Canadian Olympic Committee
Tel: 647-464-4060
Email: jsu@olympic.ca
Tanya Koivusalo, Publicist
CBC Sports
Tel: 416-205-8638
Email: tanya.koivusalo@cbc.ca