RBC announces 28 Olympic and Paralympic athletes as RBC Olympians TORONTO, September 24, 2007 — RBC today announced the 28 exceptional Canadian athletes who have joined the RBC team as RBC Olympians for the next year. The RBC Olympians Program is a national initiative that provides elite athletes with an opportunity to gain career-oriented experience with a flexible work schedule that gives them the time necessary to train and compete. The career skills and experiences gained from working at RBC will help these athletes at different stages of their careers. "As an RBC Olympian, I have the opportunity to develop the skills needed to be successful in my career after sports, while also allowing me to share my experiences and stories with students and communities across Canada," said Andrea Holmes, Vancouver-based RBC Paralympian, 2004 Paralympian (Athens), Athletics. "The RBC Olympians program supports amateur sport in Canada by helping Canadian athletes succeed, whether they are competing for Canada or starting a new career." This year's RBC Olympians are a collection of hopefuls and medallists, such as Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey gold medallist (2006, 2002), Blythe Hartley, Diving bronze medallist (2004) and Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming gold medallist (2004). "The RBC Olympians Program supports amateur athletes by providing them with the funding and flexibility they need to succeed," said Jim Westlake, group head, Canadian Banking, RBC. "Working at RBC, the athletes will be able to apply their exceptional skills and knowledge to a different playing field. We hope their experiences with the program will help them realize their fullest potential both in sports and in their future careers." Through the RBC Olympians Program, the athletes act as community ambassadors across the country, sharing their Olympic and Paralympic Games' experiences, as well as current aspirations with schools and community groups, RBC clients and employees. RBC Olympians also help raise awareness and support for amateur sport, inspiring Canadians to be physically fit and participate in sports at all levels. RBC Olympians for the next year are: British Columbia Andrea Holmes, Paralympic Athletics, 2004 Paralympian
Ravi Kahlon, Field Hockey, 2000 Olympian
Anne-Marie Lefrançois, Alpine Skiing, 2002 Olympian
Crispin Lipscombe, Snowboarding, 2006 Olympian
Gary Reed, Athletics, 2004 Olympian
Kristi Richards, Freestyle Ski, 2006 Olympian
Donovan Tildesley, Paralympic Swimming, 2004 Paralympian
Chris Wong, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian Prairies Fiona Bell, Ice Hockey, Silver Medallist - 1998 Olympian
Lisa Blackburn, Swimming, Olympic Hopeful
Steve Elm, Speed Skating, Silver Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Blythe Hartley, Diving, Bronze Medallist - 2004 Olympian
Colleen Sostorics, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Ontario Jeff Bean, Freestyle Skiing, 2006 Olympian
Jennifer Botterill, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Jacquie Cook, Rowing, 2004 Olympian
Claire Carver-Dias, Synchronized swimming, Bronze Medallist - 2000 Olympian
Perdita Felicien, Athletics, 2004 Olympian
Jayna Hefford, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian
Gillian Apps, Ice Hockey, Gold Medallist - 2006 Olympian Quebec Martine Albert, Biathlon, 2006 Olympian
Benoit Huot, Paralympic Swimming, Gold Medallist - 2004 Paralympian
Sandra Lize, Water Polo, 2000 Olympian
Dominique Maltais, Snowboarding, Bronze Medallist - 2006 Olympian Atlantic Region Joël Bourgeois, Athletics, 2000 Olympian
Alex Duckworth, Snowboarding, Olympic Hopeful
David Kikuchi, Gymnastics, 2004 Olympian
Jay Hugh Smith, Gymnastics, Olympic Hopeful More information on the RBC Olympians can be found at www.rbc.com/sponsorship/rbcolympians.html. RBC AND AMATEUR SPORT
RBC sponsors amateur sport, from grassroots events in local communities to national sport associations that support the development of amateur athletes who compete at home and abroad. As the longest-standing supporter of Canada's Olympic Team, since 1947, RBC continues this sponsorship to include the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. RBC is also a Premier Sponsor of Hockey Canada, the Canadian Snowboard Team, the Canadian Freestyle Ski Team, Athletics Canada and the Canadian Paralympic Committee. - 30 - For more information, please contact:
Jackie Braden, RBC media relations, (416) 974-2124
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On Saturday night, anarchists reportedly hurled pieces of pavement through the windows of a Royal Bank location, demonstrating against their sponsorship of the Vancouver Olympics.

An anonymous posting Sunday evening to Infoshop News, an independent anarchist news website, reports that the Royal Bank of Canada branch at 1st and Commercial had its windows destroyed by "some exceptionally large pieces of pavement".

The website describes the bank, a sponsor of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as "bastards".

It continues, by encouraging anarchists to participate—"you don’t have to wait until the 17 days of official events to begin competing, you can start right now


"



The anonymous posting on the anarchist website includes a list of thirteen branches of the bank in the city, and encourages fellow anarchists to destroy the property. The site even says "don't forget a gold medal will be given for the most damage at a single location."

There was no explanation on the site, as to why Royal Bank was targeted.

The bank has supported the Canadian Olympic Movement for 60 years. The RBC Olympians Program was created in 2002, and among the 35 athletes it has supported are diving bronze medalist Blythe Hartley, Jennifer Botterill from the gold-winning women's ice hockey team, and athlete Perdita Felicien. This year, the program is sponsoring a total of 28 summer and winter athletes.

Opposition to the 2010 Olympics has focused on the $1.63 billion expense for taxpayers, destruction of natural habitat, and loss of low-income housing to support a fee-based recreational event.