May 23, 2009 (Vancouver, BC) – The City of Kamloops, known as the Tournament Capital of Canada, will host an international workshop called “Fairness in Sport†this fall where anti-doping volunteers will be trained in the latest technological breakthroughs and fine-tune procedures for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
The announcement was made today in Kamloops by Premier Gordon Campbell, Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar and John Furlong, Chief Executive Officer of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
“Nothing is more integral in sport than fairness and sportsmanship, and this workshop will help ensure that athletes who have dedicated a lifetime of training are competing on a level playing field,†said Premier Campbell. “As the Tournament Capital of Canada, Kamloops is recognized across Canada and internationally as a leader in sports excellence and tournament hosting. This conference shows that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games belong to every community in British Columbia.â€
Over 200 volunteers will attend VANOC’s Fairness in Sport workshop, from Nov. 19 to 22, held in the heart of British Columbia’s southern Interior by VANOC. The participants will include: representatives from the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES), volunteer doping control officers (DCO) and blood collection officers (BCO). The workshop will focus on specific anti-doping requirements mandated by the IOC and the IPC.
“By delivering a state-of-the-art doping control program at the Games, all athletes can compete on a level playing field while showcasing their extraordinary athletic achievements to the world,†said Furlong. “This workshop is key to our anti-doping strategy and the City of Kamloops is playing an important role in preparing our workforce and ensuring the success of the 2010 Winter Games.
The four-day conference will provide an investment and benefit to the local tourism industry in the south central B.C. city, including 300 room nights booked, meeting space rentals and food services.
“We’re thrilled to welcome the world to our city and help anti-doping experts prepare for the upcoming 2010 Winter Games,†said Mayor Milobar. “As one of Canada’s premier hosts for sports tournaments, training camps and national and international competitions, our city embodies the spirit of fair play and excellence in athletics the Games always showcase.â€
The workshop is being sponsored, in part, by the BC Road Builders Association and Heavy Construction Association.
“Our members are pleased to sponsor the Fairness in Sport workshop in partnership with VANOC,†said association President Jack Davidson. “The anti-doping message of this workshop aligns with our association’s value of having safe, drug-free work environments on all construction sites and also allows us to show our support for the upcoming Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.â€
VANOC Anti-Doping Program Background
The Kamloops conference builds on workshops held over the past year by VANOC to prepare its anti-doping team for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Under the authority and direction of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), VANOC’s 2010 Winter Games anti-doping program has two primary objectives: the implementation of a state-of-the-art testing program to detect and deter doping behaviour, and the execution of an extensive education program for athletes and their support teams about their rights and responsibilities regarding anti-doping rules and procedures.
At the 2010 Winter Games, an estimated 600 athlete chaperones, blood collection officers, specialized doping control officers, and contracted laboratory staff will conduct upwards of 2,000 tests, including pre-competition and in-competition urine and blood tests, on athletes competing at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February and about 450 tests at the Paralympic Winter Games.
In the 2008/2009 season VANOC’s anti-doping team successfully tested approximately 500 athletes at sport events such as figure skating, biathlon and alpine skiing, held at Olympic and Paralympic competition venues. An anti-doping outreach booth was also featured at athlete hotels to provide information on World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) educational resources and the Vancouver 2010 Anti-Doping Program.
The anti-doping laboratory for the Games will be located at the Richmond Olympic Oval and operated by Institut national de la recherche scientifique.
About the City of Kamloops
Incorporated in 1893, the City of Kamloops is nestled in a lush scenic valley at the confluence of the North Thompson River and South Thompson River in the heart of British Columbia’s southern Interior. Kamloops is the third-largest city by population and economic prosperity outside the Lower Mainland, with about 85,000 people residing within its municipal boundaries. It is also the transportation hub of B.C.’s southern Interior. Excellent highway and rail connections, as well as pan-Western and international air service link Kamloops to provincial, national and global markets.
About VANOC
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 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. Please visit www.vancouver2010.com for further details on programs and schedules.