FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Great Canadian Olympians Support Olympic Spirit Toronto

Toronto - June 19, 2003

Olympic Spirit Toronto today made its mark on Dundas Square with Canadian Olympic medalists Curt Harnett (cycling), Marnie McBean (rowing), Cheryl Pounder (ice hockey) and Bruny Surin (athletics) on hand to show their support and excitement for this new facility. Speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Athlete Advisory Board, Curt Harnett said "We are thrilled to be part of this great project. Olympic Spirit Toronto is an incredible facility which will showcase Canadian Olympians and the Olympic Movement, and we are extremely proud to represent this organization."

Olympic Spirit Toronto is an innovative, state-of-the-art attraction designed to celebrate the Olympic experience with hands-on, dynamic displays. "It will allow visitors to experience the thrill and excitement of the Olympic Games every day" added Cheryl Pounder.

To officially mark their association with Olympic Spirit Toronto, Harnett, McBean, Pounder and Surin created plaster handprints which will be prominently displayed in the Center's "Wall of Fame".

"The Canadian Olympic Committee is a proud supporter of Olympic Spirit Toronto" said Canadian Olympic Committee CEO Chris Rudge. "We are excited to have a place to showcase the incredible achievements of Canadian athletes and hopefully inspire some young people to pursue their own Olympic dreams."

Canadian Olympic rower Marnie McBean passionately spoke to the assembled crowd about the commitment and dedication of Olympic athletes and the vision of Olympic Spirit to motivate and inspire people of all ages to be the best they can be. "People always ask us as athletes what the experience is like - the roaring crowd, the competition, the excitement, the medal or the heartbreak" McBean said. "We try to come up with the words, but it's something you have to experience to understand, and that's what this is about. The Olympics for us isn't something you see for 16 days on TV, it's something you feel, something you live."

The attraction is scheduled to open next summer - just in time for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Olympic Spirit Toronto is licensed by the International Olympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Committee and the International Spirit Development Organisation. Olympic Spirit Toronto is the first in a series of permanent Olympic Spirit centers to be opened worldwide.

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