Vancouver 2010 launches next phase of Official Licensee program

Invitation to provide Official Licensed Apparel

Vancouver - The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today launched the next phase of its Official Licensee program with the release of a request for "Expressions of Interest" (EOI) for Official Licensed Apparel. This is the first of several upcoming requests for expressions of interest relating to the design, manufacture and sale of merchandise bearing the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games official marks.

The EOI released today seeks to identify the "best of the best" businesses, with operations in Canada, that can design, manufacture and distribute select items or a full range of Olympic-related apparel. From jackets to t-shirts to infant wear, the VANOC licensing program will feature a broad range of clothing items that promote and enhance the Olympic brand. Interested parties are encouraged to respond to the EOI to signify their interest and outline their qualifications. VANOC will pre-qualify applicants based on their EOI responses and invite pre-qualified businesses to submit apparel licensing proposals in the subsequent Request for Proposals (RFP) process. VANOC will select one or more licensees to produce a variety of clothing for all ages that will be available across Canada at approved retail outlets, including souvenir and sporting goods stores.

Full details about the Official Apparel EOI process, deadline and notification process are available at ww.bcbid.gov.bc.ca/open.dll/welcome  

"The Licensee for Apparel request presents an unprecedented opportunity for businesses to expand and share their products with Canadians and visitors from around the world," said Dennis Kim, Director, License and Merchandising with VANOC.

VANOC will issue additional requests for expressions of interest in the coming year to identify licensees for product categories including headwear, hard goods (souvenir items such as key chains) and confectionary goods. To date, the Official Licensee designation has been awarded to Hudson's Bay Company (Hbc) and Artiss Aminco (souvenir pins).

"Drawing on the success of our partnership with Hbc for the production and sale of Canadian Olympic Team and Vancouver 2010 merchandise, we are expanding the licensee opportunity to other businesses to wholesale products bearing VANOC's official marks to retailers," said Kim.

The licenses to be granted for apparel relate to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games marks only. Hbc has been granted exclusive rights to Official Licensed products featuring the Canadian Olympic Committee or the Canadian Olympic Team marks and is the exclusive general merchandise retail partner for the distribution of such apparel. As VANOC's Premier National Partner, Hbc is also responsible for outfitting the Canadian Olympic Team and Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games volunteers.

The Official Licensee program is part of VANOC's overall Marketing and Revenue program, which aims to give Canadians across a variety of sectors access to benefits from the staging of the 2010 Winter Games. Revenues from the Official Licensing program contribute directly to the financing and staging of the Vancouver 2010 Games.

Business owners interested in opportunities with the 2010 Games are encouraged to visit VANOC's website at vancouver2010.com to register to receive procurement updates.

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Media Contact

Ailie Somerville, Vancouver 2010 Communications

tel: 778.328.1089