Aquilini Investment Group expands partnership with 2010 Winter Games

Vancouver, BC (March 30, 2008) – With only 688 days until the opening faceoff of the Olympic hockey tournament at General Motors Place, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) today welcomed the Aquilini Investment Group (AIG) as an Official Supplier for the 2010 Winter Games.

The sponsorship extends the partnership between VANOC and the Aquilini Investment Group beyond their existing venue agreement for General Motors Place —the ice hockey venue during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The Official Supplier sponsorship falls within the diversified development company product/service category, supplying VANOC with value-in-kind goods and services that will provide important venue use and services in preparation for staging the Games. It also provides AIG with an enhanced and unique opportunity to contribute directly to the success of the 2010 Winter Games.

“Hockey is part of the fabric of our country and as Canadians, our family is honoured to provide an Olympic venue that will host some of the most historic, most watched hockey games in our nation’s history,” said Francesco Aquilini, Managing Partner, Aquilini Investment Group. “The hockey played at General Motors Place will have the unique power to inspire our youth, and we are pleased to support VANOC’s commitment to deliver an event that will leave lasting legacies for children and sport in our province and country beyond 2010.”

The sponsorship supplies VANOC with use of General Motors Place and its professional services leading up to the Games including broadcast facilities for sport production. VANOC will also receive use of the venue for special pre-Games and post-Games events as well as seconded staff to help prepare for and stage the Games. Additionally, VANOC will have access to advertising opportunities during events leading up to 2010. In turn, the Aquilini Investment Group receives Official Supplier rights for the 2010 Winter Games and sponsorship rights to the Canadian Olympic team for Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010 and London 2012 Games.

“Planning and staging an event of this magnitude requires great partnerships and great venues and our relationship with the Aquilini Investment Group provides us with both," said John Furlong, VANOC Chief Executive Officer. "The Aquilini family’s commitment to the Games continues to grow and the new partnership will provide us with enhanced access to facilities, equipment and expertise at General Motors Place that will assist us greatly as we continue preparations to host the world in 2010."

The Aquilini Investment Group is a diversified family business that, among other initiatives and businesses, owns General Motors Place and the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Vancouver Canucks. The Vancouver-based company owns and manages a national real estate portfolio that includes commercial properties, office buildings, golf courses, and cranberry and blueberry farms, as well as the development and sale of multi-family residences and condominiums.

The announcement is being made on the same day as an NHL game between the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames, representing the link between the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games and the Calgary 1988 Winter Games. Special appearances will also be made during the game by Cassie Campbell, Olympic gold and silver medallist, ice hockey; Pat Quinn, head coach of Team Canada’s gold medal men's ice hockey team, Salt Lake City 2002; and the Vancouver 2010 mascots Miga, Quatchi and Sumi.

About the Aquilini Investment Group
The Aquilini Investment Group is dedicated to supporting the community through the team's charity the Canucks for Kids Fund and its programs and partner foundations; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, BC Children's Hospital Foundation, the Centre for Childhood Research in Diabetes at BC Children's Hospital, Phoenix Academy for Learning Society (for Autism) and Canucks Autism Network (CAN). The Aquilini Investment Group was the primary sponsor of the Italian Gardens at Hastings Park, and helped conserve the Fraser Valley’s Blaney Bog, which has been named as the Aquilini Land Conservatory.

About VANOC
VANOC is responsible for the planning, organizing, financing and staging of the XXI Olympic Winter Games and the X Paralympic Winter Games in 2010. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games will be staged in Vancouver and Whistler from February 12 to 28, 2010. Vancouver and Whistler will host the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games from March 12 to 21, 2010. Visit www.vancouver2010.com.

VANOC's marketing program is focused on securing mutually rewarding partnerships with shared values to generate sufficient revenue to host successful Winter Games in 2010 and to leave a financial legacy for sport. VANOC’s Worldwide TOP Partners include Coca-Cola, Atos Origin, GE, McDonald’s, Omega, Panasonic, Samsung and Visa. VANOC's National Partners are Bell Canada, Hbc, RBC Financial Group, GM Canada, Petro-Canada and RONA.

VANOC’s Official Supporters include Air Canada, BC Hydro, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Canadian Pacific, and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, Jet Set Sports, Ricoh Canada Inc., the Royal Canadian Mint and Teck Cominco Limited. VANOC’s Official Suppliers are 3M, Aquilini Investment Group, Birks, Britco, Dow Canada, EPCOR, Haworth Canada, Millennium Development Corporation, Nortel, Purolator, Saputo, Sun Microsystems of Canada, Tickets.com, TransCanada, Vancouver Airport Authority, Vincor Canada, Weston Bakeries and Workopolis.

VANOC Communications
mediarelations@vancouver2010.com