Petro-Canada, a Suncor Energy business, is extending its longstanding partnerships with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee for another eight years.
"Our motto Live by the Leaf extends to supporting those who wear the maple leaf, which is why we're thrilled to carry on Petro-Canada's longstanding partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee," says Dave Oldreive, Suncor's executive vice-president - downstream. "As we prepare to join fans in cheering on Team Canada in Paris, we're equally excited about the future of Canadian sport and the role we play in the development of athletes through the Petro-Canada FACE program."
Each year, 55 up-and-coming athletes and their coaches receive a $10,000 Fuelling Athlete and Coaching Excellence (FACE) program, grant. Grants are awarded to athletes when when they are striving to represent Canada at the Paralympic or Olympic Games but don't yet qualify for government funding, with $5,000 going directly to the athlete and $5,000 to the athlete's coach. The grants are typically used for training, equipment, coach education and travel expenses for competitions. The program was developed in 1988 and has supported more than 3,500 athletes and coaches and provided $14 million in funding facilitated by their sport partners. The 2024 FACE class will be announced in August.
The renewed sponsorship agreement extends the partnerships between Petro-Canada and Team Canada through to the end of 2032, supporting upcoming Games in Milano Cortina 2026, Los Angeles 2028, Winter 2030 and Brisbane 2032.
"Petro-Canada has been a dedicated supporter of Team Canada for almost four decades, and we're thrilled that they have committed to another eight years," says David Shoemaker, CEO and secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee. "Through programs like FACE, the impact Petro-Canada has had on Canadian athletes and the overall success of Team Canada is immeasurable. We're so glad to have Petro-Canada as part of the team heading into Paris 2024 and many years beyond."
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games run from July 26 to August 11 followed by the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8
"Petro-Canada is a valued longtime partner, and we are so pleased to be extending our relationship," says Karen O'Neill, CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee. "Petro-Canada and its leadership have shown a deep commitment to Canadian Paralympic sport and athletes, whether it's through FACE grants, ParaTough Cup, our Family and Friends program, or other initiatives. Thank you to Petro-Canada for their support in showcasing the power of inclusion in sport, and we look forward to continuing our work together for many years to come."
In additon, Petro-Canada is today (July 17) launching its 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games campaign, which feature Canadians who send in their best cheer on Instagram and TikTok using the hashtag #LetsGoWithPetro for a chance to win prizes including a trip for two to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina, Italy.