Vancouver 2010 selects Bell Canada as Premier National Partner

[October 18, 2004]

Vancouver 2010 selects Bell Canada as Premier National Partner

VANCOUVER, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) has selected Bell Canada as its Premier National Partner for the 2010 Games. With this decision, Bell renews its longstanding relationship with Canada's Olympic Teams.

"We are extremely pleased to announce this association with one of Canada's most respected corporations," said VANOC CEO John Furlong. "We have come through a very rigorous selection process and we believe Bell Canada will be an excellent partner in helping us stage outstanding Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. Bell's overall commitment represents a value to VANOC of C$200 million."
The "Premier National Partner" designation recognizes the unique status of this partnership between Bell Canada and VANOC. The partnership continues through 2012, securing for Bell the Canadian Olympic Team sponsorship rights to Torino 2006, Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and the 2012 Games. Bell will make a cash contribution of C$90 million towards the acquisition of these rights.
In the first major partnership awarded by VANOC, Bell has been chosen to provide critical communications services required to stage the 2010 Games in Vancouver and Whistler, including a comprehensive telecommunications solution, broadcast support and Internet and portal services. This represents a value of C$60 million.
Mr. Furlong said Bell was chosen not only for the breadth of its communications solution but in particular for its commitment to work with VANOC to engage all Canadians in support of Canada's Games and Canada's athletes. "In its proposal, Bell demonstrated an extraordinary understanding of what is important to us and to all Canadians," he said. "Their commitment to use their marketing reach to make these Canada's Games and their support for sport, local communities, and First Nations will make a real difference in this province and across the country. Taken together, these in-kind and cash commitments represent approximately C$50 million in value."
"We are honoured that VANOC has placed its confidence in Bell Canada," said Michael Sabia, President and CEO of Bell Canada Enterprises. "Our employees and our partners across the country are excited about this unique opportunity to help bring the 2010 Games to all Canadians, making them truly Canada's Games. We're ready to showcase Canadian capabilities to the world."
Mr. Sabia said the partnership is also an important impetus to Bell's growth strategy. "There is no better brand than the Olympic Games with which to associate our company. It is the perfect platform to enhance Bell's brand as the leading national provider of communications services. We have taken a strategic decision to make the Olympic Games a centrepiece of our marketing program for the next eight years. In doing so, we will make maximum use of redirected resources to limit incremental expenditures."
Bell Canada Enterprises is Canada's largest communications company. Through its 26 million customer connections, BCE provides the most comprehensive and innovative suite of communication services to residential and business customers in Canada. Under the Bell brand, the company's services include local, long distance and wireless phone services, high speed and wireless Internet access, IP-broadband services, value-added business solutions, and direct-to-home satellite and VDSL television services. Other BCE businesses include Canada's premier media company, Bell Globemedia, and Telesat, a pioneer and world leader in satellite operations and systems management. BCE shares are listed in Canada, the United States and Europe.
The International Olympic Committee selected Vancouver as the Host City of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at its session in Prague on July 2, 2003. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Whistler will host the Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. The Nominating Entities of the Vancouver 2010 Organizing Committee (VANOC) are the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver, the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and the Lil'wat and Squamish First Nations.
BCE INC.

CONTACT: Media Contacts: Sam Corea, VANOC Communications,(604) 806-1019, sam_corea@vancouver2010.com; Gina Gottenberg, Bell Canada,(604) 340-6192, gina.gottenberg@bell.ca; To request a free copy of thisorganization's annual report, please go tohttp://www.newswire.ca/ and click on reports@cnw.

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