Following the success of Canadian mountain bike riders Marie-Hélène Prémont and Alison Sydor in Athens today, Rocky Mountain Bicycles and Business Objects are calling on Canadian companies to increase their support for Canadian athletes. Marie-Hélène Prémont of Chateau-Richer, Quebec, won a Silver medal in the Olympic women's mountain bike competition. Alison Sydor of Victoria, British Columbia, followed Prémont, ranking fourth overall. Both ride professionally for the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Mountain Biking Team.
Rocky Mountain Bicycles, a Canadian company that has been hand-building
mountain bikes in Vancouver for over 20 years, has supported and paid the
salaries of its riders at various levels since 1991. In 2002 Business Objects
became the co-title sponsor of the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Mountain
Biking Team. Business Objects is the World's leading business intelligence
software company. It is headquartered in Paris, France, and has its largest
employee base in Vancouver, Canada.
“As sponsored riders with the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Mountain
Biking Team, Marie-Hélène Prémont and Alison Sydor have been able to dedicate
their time to improving their performance. This has greatly contributed to
their success today,” said Jean Poisson, General Manager, Rocky Mountain
Bicycles. “But the fact is companies can get as much from sponsoring athletes
as the athletes do.”
“Sponsoring athletes is not only about corporate branding,” said David
Swanson, Vice President, Human Resources of Business Objects. “Our co-
sponsorship of the Rocky Mountain Business Objects Mountain Biking Team
provides us with an ideal opportunity to encourage health and well being among
our employees.”
Business Objects is the world's leading business intelligence software
company, with close to 4000 employees in 22 countries. Business Objects
currently employs 1150 people in Canada. The company regularly hosts company
events led by world class team athletes, such as cycling skills building
clinics, motivational talks and post-race slide shows and barbeques.
Marie-Hélène Prémont finished the race in one hour, 57 minutes and 50
seconds to win a Silver medal. Alison Sydor followed closely behind Prémont,
placing fourth after finishing the race in one hour, 59 minutes and 47
seconds.
