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VANOC continues to drum up support

EPCOR agreement brings total sponsorship to more than $515 million

By Clare Ogilvie

Olympic organizers are continuing to line up sponsors at every level, with EPCOR Utilities Inc. signing on this week.

As a Tier-3 sponsor/supplier Edmonton based EPCOR will contribute up to $15 million in the deal.

“Thanks to EPCOR’s ongoing support of amateur sport in Canada, Canadian athletes are one step closer to unprecedented success in 2010,” said John Furlong, CEO of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Games.

“A large part of our success in 2010 will directly relate to the performance of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and EPCOR’s commitment to Canadian athletes will contribute to the overall success of the Games in 2010.”

The partnership will include Official Supplier rights to the Canadian Olympic Team for the Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, and London 2012 Games.

The company will also continue its tradition of supporting the national Gold Medal Plates Dinner Series, which contributes to the overall fundraising efforts of the Own the Podium 2010 initiative, and the Canadian Olympic Committee’s recently launched Road to Excellence summer sport initiative.

“Our involvement with the 2010 Winter Games and the Canadian Olympic Team is an exciting extension of the commitment EPCOR has made to this country’s elite and aspiring athletes, and their quest to reach the medal podium,” said Don Lowry, EPCOR President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We stand behind them every step of the way.”

“Canada’s Olympians are incredible role models for young people and a source of inspiration for all of us. It is their pursuit of excellence and peak performance that EPCOR shares and seeks to inspire and support in communities across the nation.”

EPCOR Utilities Inc. builds, owns and operates power plants, electrical transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure in Alberta, British Columbia/U.S Pacific Northwest and Ontario/U.S Northeast. The company is governed by an independent board of directors and its sole shareholder is the City of Edmonton.

EPCOR owns and operates the Miller Creek run-of-river hydro station in the Pemberton Valley and operates the Mamquam run-of-river facility in Squamish. EPCOR also built and operates the Britannia Mine water treatment plant.

This week’s announcement brings to three the total number of VANOC suppliers: Haworth, Workopolis and EPCOR.

There are also two official supporters, The Royal Canadian Mint and the BC Lottery Corporation, and six national partners, General Motors, Bell Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, The Royal Bank, Rona, and Petro Canada.

To date VANOC’s total sponsorship is around $515 million. It hopes to raise up to $725 million.

Currently the operating budget stands at $1.7 billion, that’s up from the $1.3 in the 2002 bid book. Officials say the operating budget has also been hit by escalating costs, as has the venues budget, which now stands, at $580 million, up from the $470 outlines in the bid book.