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For immediate release
TORONTO - Roots Canada Ltd. is pleased to announce that it has signed
Canadian Olympic diver Alexandre Despatie to the Roots team. Currently
Canada’s top male diver and 10m World Champion, Alexandre’s
athleticism, grace and focus make him the perfect fit to the Roots lifestyle.
Originally from Laval, Quebec, the 19-year old sports sensation has already
made waves in the international diving community. Alexandre holds 32 national
titles and is one of Canada’s strong hopefuls to win gold at the
2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Alexandre is the most talented diver Canada has ever produced. Not only
is he the world champion and a gold-medal contender on the men's 10-metre
tower in Athens, but he’s come on strong in recent years to become
a top-ranked springboard diver as well.
“I’m excited about this new opportunity to be associated with
Roots,” said Alexandre. “Roots continues to design top lifestyle
apparel that I’m proud to wear as a Canadian athlete, both in Athens
and elsewhere.”
Alexandre demonstrated his diving talent from a young age. When he was
only 8 years old, he won his first Canadian Juniors Championship. Five
years later, at age 13, he made it into the Guinness Book of World Records,
when he outperformed more experienced divers and captured the gold medal
at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Roots has a long, storied tradition of supporting and working with highly
gifted Canadian athletes. “Alexandre Despatie is already a champion
in the sport of diving,” said Roots Co-Founder Michael Budman. “He's
an incredible asset for Canada’s Olympic team in Athens. Roots is
delighted to work with such an established and well-rounded individual
such as Alexandre.”
Roots Olympic lines on track for new records
Sales of Roots Official Olympic team clothing are reaching new records
for the company. Since the apparel was introduced in the company’s
stores in North America in mid-May, the demand by the public has far exceeded
expectation. To date, sales are substantially outperforming sales during
the same period ahead of previous Olympics.
Official Olympic team merchandise and commemorative apparel are sold in
125 Roots stores in Canada and the United States. Roots is the official
outfitter for the Olympic teams of Canada, the United States, Great Britain
and Barbados. During the Olympic Games in Athens, athletes from the four
countries will be wearing official attire designed and made by Roots at
the Opening Parade, on the Podium and in the Olympic Village.
“If what we’re seeing so far in our stores is any indication
of the general public, interest in the Olympics seems to be reaching a
new high,” said Michael Budman, Roots Co-Founder, who will be in
Athens for the Games next month. “It’s gratifying to see such
a strong response from our customers already well ahead of the Olympics.
We see it also as a gesture of support for the Olympic athletes given
that a portion of the proceeds from the sales go to the Olympic organizations
of each country to help the athletes.”
Among the best selling items in the stores so far are the Olympic hats
and T-shirts. The Barbados line is proving especially popular. According
to Roots CEO and President Marshall Myles, retail sales of the Olympic
merchandise are running three times higher than expectation and are way
ahead of sales in the comparable period before the 2002 Salt Lake City
Games and the 2000 Sydney Games for which Roots also made and sold official
Olympic clothing.
The Roots Olympic retail collection includes men’s, women’s
and kids lines consisting of T-shirts, tank tops, sweat tops and bottoms,
parade shirts, headwear, footwear, accessories and the traditional awards
jackets for which Roots is famous. All of the Canadian Olympic team apparel
is made in Canada.
Established in Toronto in 1973, Roots has evolved into an internationally
recognized lifestyle brand. From a small store selling a single product
(Roots negative heel shoe), Roots now has 125 stores in Canada and the
United States and most recently in London, England. A privately held company,
Roots has state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Toronto, numerous
licensees and employs thousands of people in Canada and abroad.
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