May 12, 2013 (Vancouver, BC) – Today, 107 Canadian Olympic hopefuls, 43 coaches and 60 National Sport Federation support staff wrapped up a weekend of intensive preparation for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games as part of the three-day Canadian Olympic Committee’s (COC) Olympic Excellence Series (OES) in Vancouver, British Columbia. The workshop, which has been conducted by the COC for five consecutive Olympic and Olympic Winter Games, is part of a strategy to leave no stone unturned as Canada prepares to contend for number one in overall medals in Sochi.

“Canada has a worldwide reputation for delivering best-in-class Games preparation for our athletes, coaches and mission team and one need only look at this weekend’s activities to see why,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “Virtually every moment – whether it was for education, relaxation or to simply get to know each other – was designed to help ensure that the Canadian Olympic Team entering Sochi’s Fisht Olympic Stadium is practically and purposefully equipped to deal with whatever occurs, both on and off the field of play.”

“Every Canadian athlete here this weekend knows how to win, but so too does any athlete who makes it to the Olympic Games,” said Canadian Olympic Team Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014, Steve Podborski. “The goal of OES is to protect peak performance by helping the participants be more prepared – individually and as a team.”

“Every single person here this weekend has a role to play in the success of the Canadian Olympic Team in Sochi,” said Canadian Olympic Team Assistant Chef de Mission for Sochi 2014, Jean-Luc Brassard. “Being together in this way now will make such a difference next February and it’s been so great to see how much we have already become stronger as a unit.”

“It was a cool weekend and a great opportunity to get together with other athletes looking to head off to Sochi,” said Olympic gold medallist and two-time world champion Kaillie Humphries. “We all have to hit the ground running so the more quality information and preparation we can get early on, the better we’ll be when we get there.”

“This has been such an amazing chance to learn about what the Games will be like from people who know the drill,” said FIS World Champion and two-time World Cup Champion Mikaël Kingsbury. “I’m really happy to have had the chance to come here and be together with so many of the team before we get to Sochi.’

Following this weekend’s successful OES, athletes will remain in Vancouver for the COC media summit held May 13-14, which will be attended by more than 20 media outlets from across the country, including Sochi 2014 broadcast rights holder CBC. During the summit, media will have opportunities to interact with athletes, as well as obtain Canadian Olympic Team content in advance of the Games next February. It is an efficient exercise aimed at having athletes complete numerous media responsibilities ahead of their remaining prep and training for Sochi 2014. The summit also provides a crucial opportunity for athletes to experience a taste of the intense media spotlight that they will be exposed to during the Games window.

The XXII Olympiad will take place February 7-23, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.