December 12, 2003 – Sport For Life is a partnership of Alberta Health and Wellness, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) and CODA, the Calgary Olympic Development Association, that uses sport to promote the benefits of active lives without tobacco to Alberta youth.

“Our own athletes have an important role to play in encouraging kids to be active and tobacco free,” said Gary Mar, Minister of Health and Wellness and responsible for AADAC. “This partnership is another way to reach young people and convince them to follow healthy lives.”

Under the Sport For Life initiative, Olympic medallists will travel the province urging young Albertans to adopt active, non-smoking lifestyles.

“Sport and recreation must play a critical role in encouraging more young Canadians, and indeed all of us, to adopt healthier, more active lives,” said John Mills, president of CODA. “Through Sport For Life we're proud to support the work of the Alberta Tobacco Reduction Strategy.”

The cost for 2003-2004 pilot year of the Sport For Life program is approximately $250,000. Canada's Olympic athletes will play a key role in the delivery of a three-part program that includes: Team Sport For Life РNational and Olympic athletes will deliver Sport For Life messages to schools around the province. The team includes: three-time Olympic bronze medallist Clara Hughes (speed skating and cycling); Olympic gold medallist Kelly B̩chard (women's hockey); double Paralympic medallist Earle Connor (athletics); and a number of Alberta Alpine Ski Association youth ambassadors.

Facility Outreach – CODA's Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, a fully non-smoking facility that welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors annually, will promote healthy messaging and programs for youth. Canada Olympic Park draws more youth than any other sport facility in Alberta to discover winter and summer recreational activities.

Grassroots Initiatives – Sport For Life messages will be delivered at select youth sporting events throughout Alberta to reach and influence young people.

This November, Canada Olympic Park became one of North America's first ski resorts to introduce a no-smoking policy.

The policy will be implemented by on-hill ambassadors, hill patrol, lift operators and safety and security staff to ensure visitors can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in an environment free from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Canada Olympic Park will also deliver smoke-free messages through its ski and snowboard school instructors, and on-hill signage.