The Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid committee (TO-2008) and Roots, announced Tuesday the launch of its “Made in Toronto” retail merchandise line at the Roots Central store in the downtown Toronto Eaton Centre.
Toronto’s mayor Mel Lastman, Roots co-founders Michael Budman and Don Green, TO-2008 President and Chief Executive Officer John Bitove, about 25 members of Team 2008 and Members of Cast 2008 were in attendance.
The new merchandise was modelled by Cast 2008 members Rex Harrinton and Sonia Rodriguez, principal dancers with the National Ballet of Canada, as well as Olympic athletes and junior athletes. The outfits included a grey hooded sweatshirt, white long-sleeve T-shirt, grey short-sleeve T-shirt, midnight blue zip polo, midnight blue v crew sweatshirt, midnight blue micro-fleece vest and midnight blue racer hat.
Mayor Lastman said, “it is corporate sponsorship like this that will help convince IOC members that our great city has more than the infrastructure to host the Games – it has the Olympic Spirit, too”.
And Roots co-founder Don Green said, “Roots has had considerable success developing the world’s best merchandise for the Canadian Olympic teams. We want to parlay our Olympic experience into helping the Toronto 2008 committee and its leader John Bitove to bring those Games to Toronto”.
Bitove said that Roots is synonymous with sport and is recognized around the world for its youthful and athletic clothing. “The bid is proud to work with such an exciting and dynamic company on this clothing line, which will also benefit developing athletes in Canada”.
TO-2008 merchandise and volunteer sign-up forms will be available at six key Roots’ locations throughout Toronto including Roots Central, Yorkdale, Queen Street, Bloor Street, Roots Lodge (Yonge and Lawrence) and Bayview Village.
TO-2008 will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of the merchandise to the Foundation for Athletes and Sport Training (FAST) which was created by TO-2008 in September 2000 to benefit developing athletes in Canada.
