Date: December 22, 2011 – toronto, ontario. – Hockey star Sidney Crosby has been named the International Olympic Committee’s final Youth Olympic Ambassador for the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games. “The Canadian Olympic Committee is very proud of Sidney,” said Marcel Aubut, President of the COC. “He gave us a golden Olympic memory in Vancouver. Sidney is a Canadian Olympic hero and now he will help inspire the next generation of Olympic heroes. It was essential to have such an outstanding role model be part of this program.”
IOC President Dr. Jacques Rogge and Essar Gabriel, Head of the Youth Olympic Games, engaged the COC’s cooperation to help make Crosby a Youth Olympic Games Ambassador.
“He is a born leader and an excellent role model for these young athletes,” said Aubut. “The Canadian Olympic Committee was pleased to facilitate the process of Sidney becoming a Youth Olympic Games Ambassador and we are proud to have him represent Canada and the sport of hockey to Youth Olympians.”
Crosby, 24, joins figure skater Yuna Kim (South Korea), freestyle skier Kevin Rolland (France) and alpine skiers Lindsey Vonn (U.S.A.) and Benjamin Raich (Austria) as Youth Olympic Ambassadors.
The role of the Youth Olympic Games Ambassadors is to inspire and mentor the athletes competing at Innsbruck 2012, while encouraging young people worldwide to become more active in sport. The first Winter Youth Olympic Games will be held in Innsbruck, Austria, January 13-22, 2012.
Canadian Olympic Committee Media Office:
Jane Almeida,Tel: 416-324-4120 / Cell: 416-540-1788
Email: jalmeida@olympic.ca
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Cherry Ye cye@olympic.ca