For Immediate Release

Right To Play Hits the High Road with Team Columbia

NEW YORK, USA (January 10, 2009) — International humanitarian organization Right To Play today announced details of its continuing partnership with top-ranked cycling team, Team Columbia, at a press conference in Mallorca, Spain. The partnership will centre on a series of high-profile awareness and fundraising events throughout the coming year, with the goal of raising over $300,000 to benefit more than 20,000 children across the world.

Team Columbia, owned and operated by High Road Sports Inc and sponsored by Columbia Sportswear, is the youngest top-level professional cycling team in the world. It is ranked number one in the world, after winning more races in 2008 than any other professional team. Team Columbia’s cyclists include 25 current or former national champions and seven current or former world champions, led by veterans like 13-time Tour de France participant George Hincapie.

The partnership with Right To Play will kick off with a workshop at the team’s training camp, held in Mallorca in January 2009. The team will help to raise funds and awareness for Right To Play throughout 2009 at the Tour of California, the Tour de France and various other charity rides. Right To Play President and CEO Johann Olav Koss attended the team’s media event to help celebrate the continuation and growth of the partnership.

"Right To Play had a fantastic year working with Team Columbia in 2008," said Mr. Koss, who founded Right To Play in 2000. "The team performed exceptionally well and brought tremendous exposure to our cause. We’re very pleased to be expanding the partnership in 2009 to help more children around the world become healthier and happier through sport and play."

Currently supported by an international team of top athletes from more than 40 countries, Right To Play has welcomed Team Columbia to its roster of Athlete Ambassadors who act as role models to inspire children, raise awareness and promote opportunities for funding Right To Play projects.

Right To Play and Team Columbia share many important values and principles. In particular, Right To Play’s emphasis on participation and inclusion aligns with Team Columbia’s stance on fair and equal competition for both men and women. Team Columbia is also eager to expand its social responsibility platform by supporting the children who benefit from Right To Play programming, by tapping into major American and European markets.

About Right To Play
Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Working in both the humanitarian and development context, Right To Play builds local capacity by training community leaders as Coaches to deliver its programs in more than 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. Founded in 2000, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national offices in Canada, Norway, The Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The national offices raise funds, build awareness for Right To Play programs and advocate for sport for development.

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