December 14, 2004 – Two of Canada’s most decorated female athletes have joined the fight to reduce tobacco use among Alberta’s youth as part of CODA’s Sport For Life program in partnership with AADAC.

Olympic gold medallist in cross-country skiing, Beckie Scott, along with Christine Nordhagen, Canada’s first Olympic women’s wrestler, have signed on as ambassadors for Team Sport For Life to help promote the program’s message of adapting active, non-smoking lifestyles.

“I think the message that Sport For Life brings to children is extremely important, and I am excited to use my social experiences to reach out to Alberta’s youth,” said Scott. “I feel it is important, as an athlete, to speak about my personal journey and emphasize the positive influence that sport can have on encouraging healthy lifestyles.”

Sport For Life is a partnership between the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), CODA, and Canadian Sport Centre Calgary (CSCC), which focuses on using sport to positively influence youth, and impact the community on issues of health and wellness.

Both Scott and Nordhagen will deliver positive tobacco-free messaging to school-aged children in Grades 4 to 6 across the province in the new year. Scott will also voice Team Sport For Life messaging during a Beckie Scott Day in her hometown of Vermilion, Alta., and will write postcards from the road, which will follow the cross-country skier as she competes on the World Cup circuit. Nordhagen, who grew up in a small farming community near Grande Prairie, Alta., will join the northern Alberta Sport For Life tour in January with her first stop at a school in High Level, Alta.

“Sport For Life’s message is something that I strongly believe in, and I think that approaching kids at a young age can help influence change,” said Nordhagen.” As a teacher, it broke my heart to see high school kids smoking. Once they’re addicted, it is harder to make an impact. The chance to make a difference is even greater when you can reach children before they start smoking.”

Scott and Nordhagen join Sport For Life’s current Olympic roster, which includes three-time Olympic bronze medallist, Clara Hughes (speed skating and cycling) and Olympic gold medallist Kelly Béchard (women’s hockey), who both joined the program in its inauguration last year, and have signed on for a second stint.

Sport For Life, which recently celebrated its first complete year of programming, focuses on the delivery of a three-part agenda, which includes:

Team Sport For Life – national and Olympic athletes deliver tobacco-free messaging at schools and key events across the province;

Facility Outreach – focuses on Canada Olympic Park’s commitment to promoting healthy messaging and programs for youth;

Grassroots Initiatives – promotes Sport For Life messages at select youth sporting events throughout Alberta.

CODA originally launched its health and wellness brand last fall when it declared Canada Olympic Park to be the first smoke-free ski resort in the country. The national organization since received the inaugural Barb Tarbox Award of Excellence in Tobacco Reduction for its efforts.

“It is our goal to be community leaders when it comes to health and wellness, and we feel through implementing no-smoking policies at Canada Olympic Park, and by investing in powerful initiatives such as the Canadian Centre of Sport Excellence, we are taking major steps towards achieving the goals set out for Sport For Life to ensure Albertans are living healthy, active and smoke-free lives,” said John Mills, president, CODA ”