Team BC's mission staff for the 2013 Canada Summer Games has been selected, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett announced today.

Chef de mission Rob Needham will lead 21 mission staff members who will provide administrative, logistical and performance preparation support for the athletes and coaches attending the games. The mission team also includes practitioners, communications and operations support staff to round out the support network for the athletes and coaches.

This is Needham's first time as Team BC chef de mission. He held the same position at previous Paralympic Games for Team Canada. Needham is supported by assistant chefs de mission Michelle Collens and Judy Joseph-Black who also have a wealth of games experience.

The 2013 Canada Summer Games are scheduled to take place Aug. 2-19, 2013, in Sherbrooke, Que. The games will bring together approximately 4,500 athletes competing in 20 sports along with coaches, managers and officials. The Canada Games are a national multi-sport competition with participation from every province and territory in Canada.

Quote:

Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"We're proud to support sport development in our province through Team BC mission staff. Athletes going to the Canada Summer Games need to be able to focus hard on performance - to really zero in on doing what they do best without distractions. That's why this team of mission staff is so important. They take care of all the details so that the athletes can realize their potential."

Quick Facts:

• The Canada Summer Games are held every four years.

• Team BC expects to send 358 athletes, ages 12 to 22, and 80 coaches to the 2013 Canada Summer Games.

• Team BC came second at the previous 2009 Canada Summer Games and is hoping to challenge Ontario for top spot in Quebec.

Learn More:

Team BC: http://teambc.org/frontpage/

Canada Summer Games: http://www.canadagames.ca/content/welcome.asp

Contacts:

Matt Gordon
Communications Director
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677

Judy Joseph-Black
Assistant Chef de Mission
250 356-9602