Petro-Canada Canadian Athlete Family Program
In 2010, Canada will send our greatest athletes to Vancouver and Whistler. In 2010, Petro-Canada will host their greatest fans – their families.
With the 2010 Winter Games taking place in our own backyard, there’s no better way to celebrate our Canadian athletes than by providing their families with the opportunity to share in the experience. The Petro-Canada Canadian Athlete Family Program (CAFP) is part of Petro-Canada’s grassroots commitment to Canadian sports, with the aim of ensuring that athletes from across the country feel a sense of community support by having their families to cheer them on at the upcoming 2010 Games.
Created for both Paralympic and Olympic Winter Games and developed in conjunction with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC), the Petro-Canada CAFP will provide two members of an athlete’s immediate family with a truly memorable experience!
What does the Petro-Canada CAFP include?
Each athlete or guide who will be competing at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games will be able to designate two immediate family members to participate in the Petro-Canada CAFP. These two immediate family members can include spouse/partner, child(ren), parent(s), step-parent(s), or sibling(s) – whomever the athlete or guide identifies as their two immediate family members.
These two immediate family members will receive VIP style treatment during one of two “waves” during the Paralympic Games. There are a specific number of spots during the two “waves” in the Petro-Canada CAFP so, in order for these family members to maximize their time to see their athlete/guide, Petro-Canada will work closely with each National Sport Federation (NSF) to establish the “waves” designated for each specific sport based on dates of events and on projected team size.
Each athlete/guide’s NSF will be responsible for assigning the “waves” in which the eligible family members will attend, with the goal of giving the best possible chance of seeing most or all of the athlete’s competition. Petro-Canada will be asking Families to register online during the Summer of 2009 for the Petro-Canada CAFP so that, once the Paralympic Athletes’ names are confirmed, Petro-Canada will work quickly to confirm each Families’ spots.
This VIP style treatment will include:
This VIP style treatment will include:
- Accommodations - 5 (five) night’s accommodation, based on double occupancy, for the two immediate family members.
- For Families staying in Whistler and attending the Alpine or Nordic sports, the approved hotel for the Petro-Canada CAFP is the Aava Hotel (newly renovated from the previous Coast Hotel).
- For Families staying in Vancouver and attending the Wheelchair Curling or Ice Sledge Hockey sports, the approved hotel for the Petro-Canada CAFP is the Holiday Inn – Vancouver Centre.
- For Families staying in Whistler and attending the Alpine or Nordic sports, the approved hotel for the Petro-Canada CAFP is the Aava Hotel (newly renovated from the previous Coast Hotel).
- Ground transportation:
- from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to the designated hotel upon arrival IF this directly precedes your involvement with the Petro-Canada CAFP;
- from the designated hotel to YVR upon departure IF this directly follows your involvement with the Petro-Canada CAFP;
- between your designated hotel and your athlete’s competition venue for the days during your “wave” in which Petro-Canada provides you with event tickets via shuttle buses;
- from the designated hotel to your next location (either the airport or your next location of accommodation within the city that you participated in the Petro-Canada CAFP) once your participation in the Petro-Canada CAFP is completed.
- from the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to the designated hotel upon arrival IF this directly precedes your involvement with the Petro-Canada CAFP;
- Tickets – One ticket per guest to each sporting event in which your athlete or guide competes in during the “wave” in which you are at the designated hotel.
- Meals – hotel meals including a daily breakfast, food buffet and late night snack during the “wave” in which you are staying at the designated hotel.
- Clothing – a commemorative clothing package, including a Petro-Canada CAFP team winter jacket for each guest.
- AND – a lifetime of friendships and memories!
The Petro-Canada CAFP will NOT include:
- Travel – Families will be responsible to book their own travel arrangements from their home town to Vancouver and return. Please consider checking out the “Plan Your Trip” section of this website for flight and travel possibilities.
- Additional Accommodations – Families will be responsible to book their own accommodation requirements OUTSIDE of the “wave” that they will be taking part of in the Petro-Canada CAFP.
- Additional Ground Transportation – Families will be responsible for their own transportation within Vancouver and Whistler OUTSIDE of the “wave” that they will be taking part of in the Petro-Canada CAFP. Also any “personal” ground transportation during the Paralympic Games will be the responsibility of the Families.
- Additional Tickets
- Families will be responsible to purchase their own Opening and/or Closing Ceremony tickets regardless if their “wave” begins on March 12th (Opening Ceremony) or ends on March 21st (Closing Ceremony)
- Families will be responsible to purchase their own sport event tickets
- during their Petro-Canada CAFP “wave” IF they choose to see any other sports competitions OR IF they choose to see the same sport as their athlete/guide but on a day that he/she does not compete; OR
- OUTSIDE of their Petro-Canada CAFP “wave”
- Additional Meals – Families will be responsible to purchase any additional meals or food items outside of those meals provided at their Petro-Canada CAFP hotel during the Petro-Canada CAFP “wave” in which they participate.
- Personal Items – Families will be responsible for any personal souvenirs and other items they purchase during the Petro-Canada CAFP “wave” in which they participate.
Please NOTE that, due to certain restrictions, athletes/guides wishing to bring more than two immediate family members or wishing to extend family members' stay beyond the Petro-Canada CAFP "wave" they are participating in is, unfortunately, not a possibility with the Petro-Canada CAFP. Individuals looking for these as options should contact the Aava Hotel (Whistler) or the Holiday Inn (Vancouver) directly for booking accommodations. Alternatively, you may search other options to compliment this by checking the "Plan Your Trip" section of this Family & Friends website or by clicking here.
Petro-Canada understands the uncertainty involved with not knowing if your athlete or guide will be competing at the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games. Each NSF is defining their selection criteria and process, including athlete eligibility, qualification system and the selection timelines. Petro-Canada is working closely with each NSF and the CPC in order to work through the logistics until your family member is selected.
If you would like more information about the Paralympic selection process for your specific sport, contact your specific NSO. Canada’s NSF’s and their sports are as follows:
If you would like more information about the Paralympic selection process for your specific sport, contact your specific NSO. Canada’s NSF’s and their sports are as follows:
- Alpine Skiing – Alpine Canada Alpin
- Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing – Cross-Country Canada
- Wheelchair Curling – Canadian Curling Association
- Ice Sledge Hockey – Hockey Canada
For information regarding your athlete’s qualifying situation for the 2010 Paralympic Games, please speak directly with your National Sport Federation listed above.
For information regarding specifics of the Petro-Canada Canadian Athlete Family Program or if you have any questions, please contact Lorraine Lafreniere at ltlafreniere@rogers.com.
