December 21, 2007 – A year to the day after Teck Cominco announced their sponsorship support of the 2008, 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games, Don Lindsay, President and CEO launched Team Teck Cominco at the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. As part of this significant announcement, Teck Cominco made a multi-year sponsorship commitment to Cross Country Canada and Triathlon Canada to help prepare teams for the Games in 2008 and 2010.

“Olympians and Paralympians are constantly thinking about how they can train better and improve,” reflected Don Lindsay at the announcement on November 30. “They are not only training harder but are figuring out how they can train smarter, their commitment and perseverance are extraordinary and they wouldn’t succeed without incredible strength of character and integrity.

Teck Cominco’s support of CCC includes title sponsorship of the Teck Cominco Sprint Series, support of the NST and PNST as they prepare for 2010 and individual sponsorship of 5 Olympic/Paralympic cross-country hopefuls including veterans Devon Kershaw, George Gray and Brian McKeever along with relative rookies Brittany Webster and Robbi Weldon. Individual athlete support has also been extended to members of the Canadian Triathlon team, individual Paralympians, First Nation athletes and athletes who have are associated with the Teck Cominco family of employees.

“Timing of this program could not have come at a better time,” reflected Al Maddox, Executive Director of Cross Country Canada. “Teck Cominco’s investment in athletes on an individual level and through an increased prize purse at Teck Cominco Sprint competitions during the season will be welcomed by Canadian athletes who use the domestic circuit to prepare for the international stage. “

To celebrate the athlete’s journey to the podium, Teck Cominco commissioned a “Wish Box” which was blessed by members of the Muskim First Nations during the announcement in Vancouver. The hand carved yellow and red cedar box will visit each of Teck Cominco’s affiliated operations, exploration sites and offices including sites in Canada, South America, Europe, Australia and Africa between now and the start of the Beijing Olympics. Wish cards will be filled out by employees and delivered to Beijing and Vancouver prior to the 2008 and 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Don Lindsay, President and CEO of Teck Cominco is joined by members of the Muskim Nation and Team Teck Cominco representative as they celebrate the launch of the “Teck Cominco Olympic Wish Box”. Athletes attending the ceremony included Simon Whitfield, Jonathan Redman, Lauren Groves and Kirsten Sweetland. (CCC’s Team Teck Cominco members were competing in Europe and Vernon at the time of the announcement.)

The Teck Cominco Sprint Series is made up of 6 sprint events within the Haywood NorAm Canada Cup Series plus the finals at the Haywood Ski Nationals scheduled for the Whistler Nordic Centre in March. An athlete’s best 4 sprint results will count towards the sprint aggregate total.

Aggregate points are taken from a skiers final rank in the competition in most situations however when seniors and juniors are separated for the Heats, skiers will be ranked based on their qualification times. This situation will arise at the next Teck Cominco Sprint competition at the World Jr. & U23 Trials in Duntroon and again at the Teck Cominco finals at the Ski Nationals in March.

Also as part of the Series, Madshus remains involved after their 5 year stint as title sponsor by supporting the fastest qualifier at each race with a $100 bonus. Perianne Jones has dominated the women’s qualification round in each of her three outings so far while the men’s bonus has been shared by Alex Harvey (2 skate sprints) and Stefan Kuhn (classic qualifier).

The next races in the Teck Cominco Sprint Series are scheduled for the newly designed course at Highlands Nordic in Duntroon, Ontario at the beginning of January.