2011 Winter and Summer Universiades: Canadian mission staffs announced

OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport, as the Canadian representative of Fédération internationale du sport universitaire (FISU), announced Thursday the Canadian mission staffs for the 2011 Universiades.
 
As announced last spring, Beth Ali, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport at the University of Toronto, will be chef de mission at the 25th Winter Games in Erzurum, Turkey (January 27 to February 6), while Peter Baxter, director of athletics and recreation at Wilfrid Laurier University, will lead Team Canada at the 26th Summer Games in Shenzhen, China (August 12-23). 
 
Mary MacDonald, CIS manager of sport and international programs, will be the assistant chef at both events.
 
Joining Ali and MacDonald for the Erzurum Games are Ari Grossman of Wilfrid Laurier (communications manager), CIS intern Elizabeth Kiraly (operations manager), Dr. Devin Nielsen (chief medical officer), Andrea Prieur of the U of T (chief therapist), Dr. Taryn Taylor of Carleton (physician), Jacques Lavergne of Laval (therapist) and Vicky Wiltshire of Queen’s (therapist).
 
Rounding out the mission staff for the Shenzhen Games are James Keogh of Victoria (administration manager), Maureen Sparks of UNB (accreditation manager), Darren Cates of RMC (transportation manager), Janean Sergeant of Queen’s (technical manager), Michel Bélanger of CIS (communications manager), Benoit Mongeon of Montreal (sport information officer), Mike Whitehouse of Wilfrid Laurier (sport information officer), Chris Zuk of Manitoba (sport information officer), Scott McLean of Simon Fraser (sport information officer), Dr. David Mai of Ottawa (chief medical officer), as well as Mike McMurray of Manitoba (chief therapist).
 
“We are delighted with the addition of such outstanding and experienced individuals to our 2011 mission staffs,” said Mary MacDonald, CIS manager of sports and international programs. “We are confident that their expertise in the field and dedication to university sport will contribute to Team Canada’s success and positive experience at the upcoming Universiades.”
 
Many more Universiade announcements will follow in the coming months including Canadian coaching staffs and team rosters.
 
Canada sent 209 athletes and 95 coaches and support staff at the last Summer Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2009, and 91 athletes and 39 staff at the last Winter Games in Harbin, China.
 
Canadian student-athletes claimed six medals at the 2009 Winter Games including gold in the first-ever women’s hockey tournament, and reached the podium 15 times a few months later in Serbia – all in track and field and swimming – including a pair of first-place finishes, one at the track and one at the pool. 
 
2011 WINTER UNIVERSIADE MISSION STAFF
 
Chef de Mission: Beth Ali - University of Toronto
Assistant Chef: Mary MacDonald - CIS
Communications Manager: Ari Grossman - Wilfrid Laurier University
Operations Manager: Elizabeth Kiraly - CIS
Chief Medical Officer: Dr. Devin Nielsen
Chief Therapist: Andrea Prieur - University of Toronto
Physician: Dr. Taryn Taylor – Carleton University
Therapist: Jacques Lavergne – Laval University
Therapist: Vicky Wiltshire – Queen’s University
 
2011 SUMMER UNIVERSIADE MISSION STAFF
 
Chef de Mission: Peter Baxter - Wilfrid Laurier University
Assistant Chef: Mary MacDonald - CIS
Administration Manager: James Keogh - University of Victoria
Accreditation Manager: Maureen Sparks - University of New Brunswick
Transportation Manager: Darren Cates – Royal Military College
Technical Manager: Janean Sergeant - Queen’s University
Communications Manager: Michel Bélanger - CIS
Sport Information Officer: Benoit Mongeon – University of Montreal
Sport Information Officer: Mike Whitehouse - Wilfrid Laurier University
Sport Information Officer: Chris Zuk - University of Manitoba
Sport Information Officer: Scott McLean - Simon Fraser University
Chief Medical Officer: Dr. David Mai - University of Ottawa
Chief Therapist: Mike McMurray – University of Manitoba
 
Note: Remaining medical team members for Summer Universiade to be selected at a later date.
 
About the 2011 Universiades
 
The 2011 Winter Universiade will feature the following 11 sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, freestyle skiing, figure skating, ice hockey (women’s and men’s), nordic combined, short track speed skating, ski jumping, and snowboarding.
 
Official website: www.erzurum2011.gov.tr/english 
 
The 2011 Summer Universiade will feature the following 24 sports: aerobics, archery, artistic gymnastics, badminton, basketball, beach volleyball, chess, cycling, diving, fencing, golf, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, sailing and windsurfing, shooting, soccer, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and weightlifting. 
 
Official website: www.sz2011.org/eng 
 

-CIS-