MÉRIDA, Mexico, May 8, 2010 - The Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of State (Sport), and Bernardo de la Garza, Director General, National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport of the United States of Mexico, today signed a memorandum of understanding involving bilateral cooperation between Canada and Mexico in sport.
"Closer cooperation will benefit both Canada and Mexico," said Minister of State Lunn. "It will allow our two countries to learn from each other and share our best practices in the pursuit of sport excellence and increased participation."
"This memorandum of understanding will allow us to devote special attention to the development and expansion of the excellent relations that currently exist between Mexico and Canada. Its impact will be reflected in the update and feedback on specific programs, such as sports for people with disabilities, anti-doping in sports, and women and sports, among others," said Mr. de la Garza.
The agreement will encourage and facilitate cooperation between the two countries in matters related to sport. It will provide a cooperation framework to further exchanges of information and expertise on the following topics: sport for social inclusion and equal opportunities, sport for people with disabilities, women and sport, anti-doping in sport, excellence in sport, hosting, information and sport documentation, and development through sport.
This Canada-Mexico memorandum of understanding will bring the number of formal bilateral sport agreements that Canada has with other countries to nine. The others are with Brazil, China, Cuba, France, Peru, Russia, South Africa, and El Salvador.
For more information about the Government of Canada's various sport-related programs, visit www.canadianheritage.gc.ca.
To view a photo of the event, please visit http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/minstr/lunn/photos/2010/05-07-2010-eng.cfm.
For more information (media only), please contact:
Vanessa Schneider
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable
Gary Lunn, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State (Sport)
819-934-1191
vanessa.schneider@pch.gc.ca
Lic. Mariana A. Moreno Portilla
Dirección de Relaciones Internacionales CONADE
59-27-52-00, ext. 1232
Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
819-994-9101
1-866-569-6155
media@pch.gc.ca
