OTTAWA (February 28, 2008) – Manitoba lawyer Jeff Palamar was named today as the athlete ombudsperson for the Canadian Team headed to the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

“I am looking forward to working with our Paralympians and to playing a part in making the upcoming Beijing Games a success for Team Canada,” said Palamar, who was appointed to the voluntary position after an extensive search by the Canadian Paralympic Committee and AthletesCAN.

He will provide guidance and counsel to members of the Canadian Team at the Paralympic Games to quickly and effectively resolve any disputes or issues that may arise at the Games. The athlete ombudsperson will liaise with the 2008 Canadian Paralympic Team and AthletesCAN leading up to and during the Games.

“The athlete ombudsperson is an essential part of a successful team. Athletes need to know they have someone onsite whom they can turn to for assistance and who will represent their voice,” said Jasmine Northcott, executive director of AthletesCAN.

Palamar has been honorary legal counsel for Team Canada Volleyball since 1997 and provides counsel on an ongoing basis to Sport Manitoba. He’s currently the provincial chair of KidSport Manitoba.

He graduated with a law degree from the University of Manitoba in 1984 and began his career at Taylor McCaffrey LLP in Winnipeg, MB in 1985. He became a partner seven years later and practices primarily in the areas of employment, labour and administrative law, including sports, human rights, Aboriginal and civil litigation.

“We are happy to add Jeff as the latest member of our support team, which also includes doctors, physiotherapists, technical services officers and communications specialists, who are already working together behind the scenes to ensure Canada’s Paralympic athletes are able to concentrate solely on their competitions at the Beijing Games,” said Debbie Low, the Canadian Paralympic Committee’s 2008 Beijing Games Chef de Mission. “There will be some incredible and inspiring performances by Canada’s Paralympians in China.”

The Beijing Paralympic Summer Games run from September 6-17, 2008 in China.

About the Canadian Paralympic Committee
The Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) is a non-profit, charitable, private organization that is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). The CPC delivers programs that strengthen the Paralympic Movement in Canada, including sending Canadian teams to the Paralympic Games. The CPC empowers persons with physical disabilities, through sport, at all levels. For more information, visit www.paralympic.ca.

About AthletesCAN
AthletesCAN is the collective voice of Canadian national team athletes. Established in 1992, AthletesCAN provides programs of leadership, advocacy and education to ensure a fair, responsive and supportive sport system for athletes.

For further information: Gabrielle Payette, Canadian Paralympic Committee, (613) 569-4333, ext. 225, gabrielle@paralympic.ca; or Rachal Fleury, AthletesCAN, (613) 526-4025, rfleury@athletescan.com.