Commonwealth Games Canada sends Canadian sport interns to Africa
OTTAWA, March 16, 2010 – Six young sport administration interns from across Canada will spend the next year in Africa as the latest participants in Commonwealth Games Canada’s groundbreaking Capacity Support Program (CSP).
All of the interns have impressive backgrounds in athletics. In addition to competing in sports ranging from wrestling and basketball to biathlon, they have dedicated themselves to promoting the benefits of sport and physical activity through coaching, volunteer work and community involvement.
The interns will work as Capacity Support Officers with Commonwealth Games Associations in six different countries to assist with preparations for this year’s Commonwealth Games, to be held in Delhi, India from October 3rd to 14th.
The CSP, co-funded by the Commonwealth Games Federation and Commonwealth Games Canada, is designed to support Commonwealth Games Associations in developing countries by helping them maximize organizational performance as they prepare for the 2010 Commonwealth Games this fall in Delhi and for future Games. The CSP interns will assist with sport administration activities ranging from programming, fundraising and communications to the implementation of the games management software program Zeus.
CSP internships are open to Canadians who have studied Sport Management, Sport Administration, Health, Physical Education, Kinesiology, Human Kinetics or Recreation at the post-secondary level. The program’s goal is to augment the sport management capabilities of Commonwealth Games Associations in developing countries, reinforcing the Commonwealth Games’ mandate of encouraging international development through sport.
The six newest interns, who head overseas March 25th, join other Canadians who have been serving as Capacity Support Officers in the Americas and the Caribbean since September 2009.
“We’re extremely pleased to be moving into the second year of the Capacity Support Program, and into the region of Africa,” says Thomas Jones, CEO of Commonwealth Games Canada. “These six interns are highly qualified and will bring the same dedication and energy to their CSP internships as they have already demonstrated through athletics and academics, and through their community involvement. We look forward to partnering with the Commonwealth Games Federation again this year and continuing with this program as it grows and evolves in a way that contributes to success throughout the Commonwealth.”
The six newest Capacity Support Officers and their placements are:
Candace Christie, 23, Terra Cotta, Ont.—University of Guelph
Botswana National Olympic Committee
Jenny Dea, 22, Toronto, Ont.—Acadia University
National Olympic Committee of Zambia
Duane Louis, 25, Victoria, B.C.—Camosun College
Swaziland Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association
Jamie Macari, 26, St. Catharines, Ont.—Lakehead University; Brock University
Uganda Olympic Committee
Paddye Magill, 23, Ottawa, Ont.—Brock University
Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association
Ella Mawdsley, 25, Fort Smith, N.W.T.—University of Lethbridge
Lesotho National Olympic Committee
About International Development through Sport
International Development through Sport (IDS) is a branch of Commonwealth Games Canada. Since 1993, IDS has been operating in selected developing Commonwealth countries in Africa and the Caribbean and aims to increase collaboration and promote partnerships between local, national and international organizations to advance the concept and delivery of development through sport.
About Commonwealth Games Canada
Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) is the international franchise holder for the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth movement in Canada, and an active, contributing member of the Canadian sport community. The mission of Commonwealth Games Canada is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth, by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool.
Photographs available.
To arrange interviews with the interns or for more information please contact:
Hannah Juneau
International Internship Programs Officer
Commonwealth Games Canada
Tel: 613.244.6868 Fax: 613.244.6826
Email: Hannah@commonwealthgames.ca
www.commonwealthgames.ca
