CSIC’s Marcotte Attends Summit of the Americas

Elise Marcotte, Communications Lead at the Canadian Sport Institute Calgary, had the privilege of being selected to attend the Seventh Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama from April 10-11, 2015.

Marcotte earned this opportunity as a result of her appointment as Assistant Chef de Mission for the upcoming 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. In this role she will work with Chef de Mission Curt Harnett and Assistant Chef, Waneek Horn-Miller. This is a significant accomplishment for Elise, as the Games are the world's third-largest multi-sport event and the biggest ever hosted by Canada.

Marcotte's communications skills and bilingualism combined with her athletic achievements make her an ideal Assistant Chef. A retired synchronized swimmer, Marcotte competed at the Pan Am Games, winning two gold medals at the 2011 Games in Guadalajara and a silver medal in the 2007 Games in Rio de Janeiro. She also represented Canada at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012, and won bronze medals at the World Championships in both 2009 and 2011.

Marcotte's trip to the Summit began in Ottawa when she travelled to Panama on Prime Minister Stephen Harper's private plane. PM Harper and Marcotte were joined by Saäd Rafi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, as well as Canadian athletes Tera Van Beilen from swimming, Priscilla Gagné from para-judo, and Marco Dispaltro from boccia. PM Harper was accompanied by a team that included speechwriters, journalists, and doctors. The group's main agenda was to attend a reception on April 11 to invite the Americas to attend the upcoming Pan Am and Para Pan Am Games.

While PM Harper attended meetings with the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the Americas, the Canadian contingent had the opportunity to visit Panama and to meet with Panamanian Athletes. At the reception, Games CEO Rafi was invited on stage to introduce Canadian Parapan Am athletes Dispaltro and Gagné, Pan Am athlete Van Beilen, and Assistant Chef Marcotte. PM Harper then officially invited the Americas to attend Canada's Games as both spectators and athletes.

For Marcotte, the experience was both invaluable and unforgettable. She noted, "It was a real honor to attend this event with the PM and to represent Team Canada's athletes. The Pan Am Games will be a memorable moment for summer sport in the whole country."

The 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games are taking place from July 10-26 while the Parapan Am Games are from August 7-15. The Games' size is impressive, hosting 36 Pan Am sports and 15 Parapan Am sports from 41 Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) member nations. Over 700 athletes will represent Canada, which constitutes the country's biggest team ever to attend a major Games.

Tickets to watch the CSIC's athletes compete at the 2015 Toronto Games are currently available online at http://www.toronto2015.org/tickets

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Written by Brittany Schussler: @BSchussler