May 3, 2005 (Montreal, Quebec) РThe Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) announced today that Marc G̩linas will be joining the organization in the new role of Director, Athlete and Community Relations, based in Montreal.

Gélinas has over 20 years of sport experience, most recently as Director General at Sportcom, a Quebec-based, non-profit amateur sport organization mandated to contribute to improving the visibility of high performance athletes and sport in the media. Prior to joining Sportcom, Gélinas held senior positions with the Coaching Association of Canada, the Hockey Company and Baseball Canada. Gélinas was also a pitcher for Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 1976 to 1982.

“Marc is an excellent addition to the COC,” said Chris Rudge, COC Chief Executive Officer. “He brings to the organization a unique blend of business and professional sport experience as well as a strong background in amateur sport consulting and coaching. As we continue to build our Athlete and Community Relations department, it is imperative that we have a strong presence in Quebec. Marc’s proven organizational and leadership ability will be instrumental in developing key relationships within the Quebec sport and business community.”

Reporting to the COC’s Chief Operating Officer Lou Ragagnin, Gélinas will be a member of the COC’s senior management team with primary national responsibility for the development and delivery of Education and Youth Outreach programs. He will also be responsible for the delivery of COC programs in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, and will help represent the COC and its interests with media, the sport community, and other partners primarily in each of these regions. Gélinas’ role will complement that of Chris Farstad, the COC’s Director, Athlete and Community Relations, based in Vancouver, who has national responsibility for Athlete relations and the delivery of COC programs in Western and Central Canada.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to work with the COC,” said Gélinas, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education from McGill University. “The Olympic Movement represents all of the values that I have embraced while involved in sport over the last two decades. My new position with the COC will allow me to draw on my previous experience and close ties with the Quebec sport community to support the COC’s mission of achieving podium success at Olympic Games and advancing the Olympic movement in Canada.”

Gélinas will be starting with the COC in June 2005.
The Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) is a national, private, not-for-profit organization committed to sport excellence. It is responsible for all aspects of Canada’s involvement in the Olympic movement, including Canada’s participation in the Olympic and Pan American Games and a wide variety of programs that promote the Olympic Movement in Canada through cultural and educational means. For more information see the COC website: <http://www.olympic.ca/>www.olympic.ca.