RBC Financial Group says that it is searching for eight Olympians to participate in its Career Opportunities Program, a partnership between the Canadian Olympic Association and RBC.

So far, the company has filled two of ten positions recently made available within its organization earmarked for Canadian Olympic athletes, in the hopes of helping them balance training time with real opportunities for career development.

Georgina Wheatcroft, two-time world champion curler, is one Olympian hired by RBC. In addition to Wheatcroft, RBC has hired Yves Bedard, a paralympic weight-lifter now working at Royal Direct in Montreal.

Olympic athletes interested in participating in this program should visit www.royalbank.com/olympics for more information or contact the COA directly.

RBC’s Career Opportunities Program is part of the COA’s Life Services program which prepares athletes for life after sport by providing personal counseling, job-search techniques, money-management training, educational planning and tutoring support.

RBC’s ongoing partnership with the COA began in 1947, and it recently renewed its sponsorship of the COA for another four years, which will include the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.

“No matter how many medals our team brings home, RBC believes that Canadian athletes deserve our ongoing support,” says Patricia Straker, managing director of RBC’s sponsorship programs. “After all, being an athlete is about more than two weeks of competition every four years. It’s about a lifelong commitment to excellence.”