MISSISSAUGA, ON, (CNW) - With Canada's medal hopefuls headed to Athens to compete in the Olympic games, Petro-Canada is introducing a convenient new way for Canadians to show their support. By purchasing almost any convenience item at a Petro-Canada location, a portion of the sale will go to help Canada's Olympic team.

"Since 1988, our customers have helped us raise over $6.5 million to support more than 2,000 athletes and coaches," said Boris Jackman, Executive Vice-President, Downstream. "With this new initiative, we believe Canadians will provide a further financial boost by heading to their local Petro-Canada to purchase bottled water, ice cream, maps and other summer driving necessities."

Also, while supplies last, Petro-Canada is selling special-edition Olympic Roots Cooler Bags at retail sites across the country, with a portion of the proceeds going to help the Canadian Olympic Team. "Petro-Canada has a successful track record of involving Canadians in their ongoing efforts to raise money for Canada's athletes and coaches," said Chris Rudge, CEO, Canadian Olympic Committee (COC). "With this latest initiative, people across the country will be able to help support our athletes as they compete for a podium finish."

Petro-Canada's Olympic involvement dates back to Olympic Torch Relay leading up to the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. In 89 days, 65,000 Canadians carried the Olympic Torch through 800 cities, towns and villages across the country. At that time, Petro-Canada introduced commemorative Torch Relay glassware for purchase at retail sites, selling more than 50 million pieces from coast to coast. The proceeds from the glassware were used to establish the Petro-Canada Olympic Torch Scholarship Fund.

Petro-Canada is a strong supporter of the Olympics, Paralympics and amateur sport and continues to help athletes achieve their dreams. The support of Canadians has allowed Petro-Canada to develop a comprehensive Olympic Program that assists athletes in their desire to make our country proud. Petro- Canada also contributes to the Petro-Canada Olympic Torch Scholarship Fund, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Petro-Canada Canadian Olympic Committee Excellence Fund.

The Canadian Olympic Excellence Fund was launched in 2003 to support Canadian athletes, teams, sports and programs with the best potential for international success. Beneficiaries are determined by a Sport Review Committee comprised of sport technical representatives who meet with each of Canada's National Sport Federations to identify the athletes, teams, coaches and programs with the highest probability of achieving Top-8 results in future Olympic and Pan American Games. The Sport Review Committee works with all of the COC's main partners in the Canadian sport system to ensure the strategic use of the resources available to Canadian sport.

Petro-Canada is one of Canada's largest oil and gas companies, operating in both the upstream and downstream sectors of the industry in Canada and internationally. Its common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol PCA and on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCZ.