Chantal Petitclerc joins the 2013 Ottawa Canada Day Game of Life Run/Walk as Honourary Chair

Ottawa, ON (Monday, May 21, 2013) – Chantal Petitclerc, one of Canada’s most decorated athletes of all time, will be in Ottawa on July 1, 2013, as Honourary Chair of the 2013 Ottawa Canada Day Game of Life Run/Walk.

The only Canadian athlete to win gold medals at Commonwealth, Olympic, and Paralympic Games, Petitclerc holds world records in three different wheelchair racing events.“The Run/Walk provides a fantastic opportunity for everyone in Ottawa—locals and visitors alike—to start Canada Day by celebrating sport, health, and physical activity,” says Ms. Petitclerc. “What better way to fundraise than with a run through the scenic vistas and sites of the National Capital Region?” 

The 2^nd Annual Canada Day Game of Life 10K, 5K, and 1K Run/Walk course starts and finishes in Jacques Cartier Park, along the shores of the Ottawa River. The course proceeds through the streets of the nation's capital region, past iconic heritage landmarks such as the Parliament Buildings, Confederation Square, the National Gallery of Canada, the National Arts Centre, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and the Rideau Canal, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Organized by Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC) in collaboration with the National Capital Commission and sponsors the Running Room and Mizuno Canada, this locally run event has a definite global purpose. CGC supports the social development of individuals, communities and organizations within Commonwealth countries using the transformative power of sport. All registration proceeds from the run go to support the Bowling Out AIDS program, one of CGC’s Beyond the Podium initiatives in the Caribbean.

Chantal Petitclerc is also Chef de Mission for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Team, and she is enthusiastic in her support for CGC’s Beyond the Podium international programs. "These young men and women—future leaders in their communities—are working through sport to provide life-saving HIV/AIDS health education," says Ms. Petitclerc. "There’s a whole other component to what CGC does, and I’m delighted to be Honourary Chair of an event that will help to shine a light on these extraordinary people and international programs."

About Chantal Petitclerc

Engaging speaker, sport ambassador, mentor, spokesperson, and broadcaster, Chantal is best known for her back-to-back gold medal sweeps at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic Games. Her athletic career has seen her earn 3 Commonwealth Games medals, 21 Paralympic medals (14 gold, 5 silver, and 2 bronze) as well as Olympic gold at the 2004 Games along with four world and five Canadian records. In 2010 Chantal was inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, in 2008 was named the recipient of the prestigious Lou Marsh trophy as Canada’s top athlete. In 2006 she was chosen as flagbearer of the Canadian Team at the opening ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games.

About Bowling Out AIDS

An estimated 240,000+ people—half of them women—are living with HIV in the Caribbean, making it the second-most affected region in the world after sub-Saharan Africa. Commonwealth Games Canada’s Bowling Out AIDSisa social development through sport program improving young Caribbean cricket players’ sport skills and their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours around HIV/AIDS prevention. “The Bowling Out AIDS program is very important, since it improves cricket skills and young cricket players develop healthy lifestyles,” says Guyanese coach Vibert Johnson. In 2012, Commonwealth Games Canada’s Bowling Out AIDS program trained 338 coaches, reaching over 32,000 young cricket players in7 Caribbean countries.

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 CGC is to strengthen sport within Canada and throughout the Commonwealth by participating in the Commonwealth Games and by using sport as a development tool. Visit www.commonwealthgames.cafor information.

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