January 9, 2008 (Calgary, AB) – Two-time Olympic medallist, Beckie Scott, will travel the country over the next three years  to attract Canadian youth to the sport of cross-country skiing, thanks to a new multi-level partnered initiative announced by Cross Country Canada and StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. during a media conference in Calgary on Friday.

The Beckie Scott Youth Ambassador Program will target Canadian youth between the ages of six and 14 in regions of StatoilHydro’s core business, including Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador. Scott, of Vermilion, Alta., will help recruit and retain children to the sport of cross-country skiing in an effort to increase awareness, support youth development and strengthen Canada’s junior athlete talent pool.

“This is an exciting, new program that will have a direct contribution to attracting new talent for Canada, while motivating and developing the heroes of tomorrow into world-class athletes,” said Al Maddox, executive director, Cross Country Canada. “With Beckie Scott as an active Olympic role model, and the generous support of StatoilHydro, our goal is to reach kids from coast-to-coast-to-coast and teach them the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle, while encouraging them to pursue excellence in cross-country skiing.”

The Beckie Scott Youth Ambassador Program represents StatoilHydro’s commitment to provide more than one million dollars in support over three years to Cross Country Canada, and is designed to ensure the success of Canadian cross-country skiers by focusing on supporting Cross Country Canada’s junior and youth programs.

The partnership, which gives Scott the opportunity to introduce new Canadian youth to the sport, will also help to provide current and future athletes the opportunity to educate themselves, and progress through Cross Country Canada’s long-term athlete development model. The model consists of seven stages from the grassroots to elite level.

“Having new opportunities to pursue excellence through sport will change the lives of aspiring Olympians in every corner of this country,” said Beckie Scott, who represents the pinnacle of Cross Country Canada’s development model. “Supporting skiers at the grassroots level, while educating them on setting proper goals within the various stages of their development, is crucial to ensuring Canada’s success continues on the world stage well into the future.”

StatoilHydro’s support of the next generation of athletes also includes supporting members of the National Junior Team and Cross Country Canada’s National Team Development Centres with enhanced coaching, training and competitive opportunities overseas.

“We are extremely proud to invest in the heroes of tomorrow and support the sport of cross-country skiing in Canada” said Geir Jossang, president of StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. “It is our hope that this contribution will build strong grassroots programs across Canada so that amateur athletes have the skills, coaching and competitive opportunities they need to realize their full potential.”

In addition to direct funding for athlete development, StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. will also provide financial support to assist with coaching and officials development initiatives that will bolster the introduction of youth cross-country ski programs in remote communities across Canada.

With this significant financial contribution, StatoilHydro Canada Ltd. becomes a gold-medal partner of Cross Country Canada. In recognition for their generous contribution to the national program and long-term development and success of the sport in Canada, the National Junior Team will also be sporting the StatoilHydro logo on their race toque and warm-up gear next year.

StatoilHydro is a Fortune-50 integrated oil and gas company with operations in over 40 countries. Clear and compelling company values, international award-winning environmental record, and an inclusive people perspective underpin StatoilHydro’s operations everywhere.

StatoilHydro Canada Ltd’s activities include production offshore in Newfoundland and Labrador at the Hibernia and Terra Nova fields. In 2007 the company acquired North American Oil Sands Corporation with over 1100 square kilometers of oil sands leases in northern Alberta. The company is currently developing the Leismer SAGD Demonstration project which will have a nominal capacity of 20,000 b/d.

Cross Country Canada is the governing body of cross-country skiing in Canada. Its 51,000 members include athletes, coaches, officials and skiers of all ages and abilities, including those on Canada’s National Ski Teams and Para-Nordic Ski Teams. Cross-country skiing is Canada’s optimal winter sport and recreational activity with more than one million Canadians participating annually.