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2016 AO BRAND AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Summary of the Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador Program 2016 (v3) Table of Contents

Athletics Ontario 2016 Brand Ambassador Program Details Would you like to be an Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador? Are you an Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador? You might be, but don't know it yet! We'd like to find as many of you as we can - mainly to thank you and honour you for your continuous support and hard work. A central part of our programming at Athletics Ontario is resurrecting and amplifying our Ambassador program.

2 | P a g e Deadline Extended: Monday February 29, 2016 The community of athletes in the Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador program is both unique and inspiring. Being an Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador is not primarily about getting discounts and free stuff. It's a way for us to recognize our most passionate supporters. Have you established a strong connection and affinity to the Athletics Ontario organization and our events that is based on trust and our ability to help you develop to achieve better performance and overall health? You may have been an AO member for decades, or not, but you have taken it upon yourself to tell the world about Athletics Ontario and the benefits of training and competing in track and field, race walking, road running, trail running, cross country running, or para sports. And, most importantly, you want to use the positive experiences you’ve garnered over the years in athletics, and “pay it forward." Or, you do it just because you want to share your discovery and news about an organization that’s doing great things for the sport. If some or all of these describes you, download the Application Form (page 3/ below) and send back to [email protected] before (*extended deadline) Monday February 29, 2016. Selected staff members will review your responses and get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you, Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador Lead

Athletics Ontario 2016 Brand Ambassador Application Form Athletics Ontario’s Brand Ambassador program is an exciting opportunity for Athletes, Coaches, and Officials to get involved in engaging with the community, promoting your talent within our sport, along with your skills and knowledge.

Information AO Needs from You: First Name: Last Name:

3 | P a g e Deadline Extended: Monday February 29, 2016 Nickname: Date of Birth (DD/MM/ YY): Home Address: Phone Number: Email Address: Preferred Method of Communication: Discipline / Sport/ Focus (HJ, WT, Coach, Official, etc.): Club Affiliated With: AO Membership #: Profession / Studies: Instagram Username: Facebook Page: Twitter Username: Leadership Experience: Estimate / Projection of your Race / Ex: Name, Date, Location (1) March 5/6 BMJ Indoor AO Championships, Competition Calendar or Events you (2) June 11/12 Sr. AO Championships, (3)… etc.) plan to be in attendance at: Please outline why you would like to join the Athletics Ontario Brand Ambassador Team: (maximum 300 words)

*Please submit this application via email to [email protected] before Monday February 29, 2016. Selected staff members will review your responses and get back to you as soon as possible. Athletics Ontario 2016 Brand Ambassador Program Outline & Expectations Commitment and involvement with the Brand Ambassador Program: There will be a series of monthly challenges posed to the Ambassadors to complete – you can choose to do all or some of the challenges to keep the many AO members engaged and involved. With contributions from our AO Sponsors, there may be monthly prizes available to Ambassadors that participate and are more engaged.

# Activity/ Notes Start End Challenges 1 Application See website for application and submission process. Feb 8 Feb 26 Released 2 Closing date for Deadline to submit Application Form to [email protected] Feb 26 Feb 26 Applications

4 | P a g e Deadline Extended: Monday February 29, 2016 3 Evaluation of AO to review submissions and build roster. Feb 14 Feb 28 Applications 4 Kick off of first Communication/ Announcement via Website of the 2016 Selected Mar 4 month Ambassadors. 5 March 1. Skype call with Ambassador Team Mar 1 Mar 30 2. YouTube or Sound Cloud interview w/Sarah 3. “Mind the Gap” - our version of this: http://www.theplayerstribune.com/leo-komarov-maple-leafs-what-the-blank- nhl-all-star-edition/ 6 April 1. YouTube interview (where you interview another athlete on camera) Apr 1 Apr 30 2. “Snack Attack” - share a favourite recipe with us via link or brief write-up, and a quick blurb about why this snack or dessert is your favourite ‘cheat’. 7 May 1. “Chef YouTube” – AO ambassador filmed in the kitchen cooking and sharing May 1 May 31 a fun & healthy favourite recipe 2. Minute Made 8 June 1. Twitter Takeover Jun 1 Jun 30 2. “Training Day” – an inside look at your training. Using an iPhone/smartphone take a video (maybe in slow motion?) of you while you’re training. Post and be sure to tag us! (Example Sarah Wells’ IG post) 9 July 1. “Cool Calendar” – what do the coolest athletes tackle in a given day week? Jul 1 Jul 31 We’d love to see a calendar complete with a written blurb about a week in the life of ….. YOU! Share your schedule/meals/workouts/downtime details 2. Minute Made (Olympic Edition) 1 August 1. “Athlete POV” (Olympic photo challenge/still shot or selfie) Aug 1 Aug 31 0 2. “Training Day” – an inside look at your training. Using an iPhone/smartphone take a video (maybe in slow motion?) of you while you’re training. Post and be sure to tag us! 1 September 1. “Mind the Gap” - our version of this: Sep 1 Sep 30 1 http://www.theplayerstribune.com/leo-komarov-maple-leafs-what-the-blank- nhl-all-star-edition/ 2. Recorded Skype video interview w/Sarah 1 October 1. Sound Cloud interview w/Sarah Oct 1 Oct 31 2 2. Athlete POV (can we incorporate Halloween into this particular photo or photo collage? Maybe #Throwback or just your costume this year?!) 1 November 1. Training Day (An update with/iPhone video (maybe in slow motion? Be sure Nov 1 Nov 31 3 to tag us!) 2. Twitter Takeover 1 December 1.“Athlete POV” (Christmas / holiday photo challenge), plus one paragraph Dec 1 Dec 31 4 about managing/balancing the holidays and sport 2. Minute Made (holiday theme for this one?)

Duties of the Athlete: a) Athletes must have a minimum monthly contact with the Ambassador Program Lead, via email, that includes an update with what the ambassador has going on, any photos, edits or anything else that is worth updating Athletics Ontario on. b) Ambassadors must represent the AO brand at all times in a professional manner. c) Ambassadors must ‘like’ the AO Facebook page and follow AO on Twitter and Instagram. d) Ambassadors are encouraged to tag any relative posts on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter with the following appropriate tags that follow in the examples below:

a.i. #AthleticsOnt

5 | P a g e Deadline Extended: Monday February 29, 2016 a.ii. #AthleticsOntario a.iii. #letsgoAO a.iv. #AOChamps a.v. #AOChamps2016 *NOTE: any training updates, accompanied with a simple photo of you (in your Brand Ambassador clothing) or your training friends, coaches, parents, volunteers, etc. will always be welcome. Please be sure to tag us. This doesn`t need to be elaborate; a simple update always works! (i.e. “5km training run today with my AO Club #AthleticsOntario” or raceday: “Ran the XX Race 10k today placed 10th overall #AOChamps2016”, etc. You get the idea!)

e) If Ambassador has a website, add the Athletics Ontario logo to your website and link back to http://www.athleticsontario.ca – use AO Logo as button/hyperlink (attached) to your personal LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Facebook, website, etc.

f) Write a ONE paragraph “About You” blurb (three paragraphs or 300 words maximum) for the AO website. Emphasize YOUR STORY, not just goals and/or accomplishments by Friday, March 11th, 2016.

g) Join the quarterly group Skype video calls. We'll chat about monthly challenges and opportunities to generate new ideas and help promote the sport!

6 | P a g e Deadline Extended: Monday February 29, 2016