At Canada Olympic House in Rio de Janeiro, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Bell announced their renewed partnership through to 2024. Bell is a longtime supporter of Canada’s Olympic athletes and became a Premier National Partner of the COC in 1999.

The announcement was made by COC Chief Executive Officer, Chris Overholt, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE, George Cope, and six-time Olympic medallist and Bell Let’s Talk national spokesperson, Clara Hughes.

Bell Athletes Connect

As a key pillar of the renewed partnership, Bell has collaborated with the COC to re-launch an enhanced Bell Athletes Connect program. The only program of its kind in North America, Bell Athletes Connect equips more than 1,200 Canadian athletes with a smartphone from Samsung Canada, exclusive provider of wireless phones for the program, and Bell mobile services that help them keep in touch with family, friends, coaches and fellow athletes.

Bell Olympic Club

Launched in advance of the Rio 2016 Games, the new Bell Olympic Club is an all access community for fans to connect with athletes, enter contests, earn rewards and follow their favourite athletes with exclusive content available on the COC website.

COC supports Canadian mental health

The renewed partnership agreement also reinforces the Canadian Olympic Committee’s commitment to mental health. Since the London 2012 Olympic Games, Bell and the COC have been working together to engage athletes and students in schools around Canada in the conversation about mental health through the Canadian Olympic School Program mental fitness module. The COC also supports the annual Bell Let’s Talk Day on their digital channels with content for Olympic Club members and at Olympic.ca, showcasing athletes participating in Bell Let’s Talk Day and encouraging all Olympians and fans to get involved in the conversation about mental health.