Rona's Olympic Deal

Eddie Arzouian

While RONA (Hardware stores) may have pulled the plug on their full cycling team last fall, they certainly have not pulled the plug on sport sponsorship.

RONA may have pulled its sponsorship of the Federation Quebecoise des Sports Cyclistes because I can no longer find any reference to them on the FQSC web site. RONA also used to sponsor some events in Quebec I do not know if they are doing that. I'm told they do still sponsor Genevieve Jeanson solo but I haven't seen a photo of Jeanson yet this season to confirm that. I do not care about individual sponsorship in cycling because that is not how the sport should work.

A big deal for the 2010 Olympics was announced today (May 5, 2005).
Sixty-eight million dollars for four years. As a benchmark, remember Tim Horton's gives the Canadian Cycling Association about $100,000 per year for all four national championships (Road Track, MTB & BMX) and all those national and Olympics teams. Peanuts, donut holes.....


RONA signs $68M to sponsor 2010 Games

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VANCOUVER (CP) - RONA, a Canadian-owned big-box hardware store, has signed an eight-year, $68-million deal to be an official sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

RONA, Canada's largest distributor and retailer of hardware, home renovation and gardening products, becomes the 2010 Games official home improvement partner, the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) announced Wednesday.

As part of the agreement, RONA has sponsorship rights for the Canadian Olympic team for the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, the Beijing 2008 Summer Games, and the 2010 Summer Games.

Included in the company's financial commitment is a $7 million investment in sport initiatives such as the RONA Youth Aspiration program and the Own the Podium program, an initiative for Canada to top the medal standings at the 2010 Games with at least 35 medals.

RONA will also supply assistance and materials to help prepare the venues for the 2010 Winter Games.

"RONA shares our vision of ensuring all Canadians feel pride and ownership in the 2010 Games, no matter where they live," John Furlong, the VANOC CEO, said in a release.

Robert Dutton, RONA's president and CEO, said he hopes the agreement helps the company grow its presence in Western Canada.

"As a proudly Canadian company, we are very pleased to be working with VANOC," he said.