Air Canada announced today that it has renewed its sponsorship as the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee. The four-year agreement extends through the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games.

Air Canada has been the official airline of the Games for the last decade. Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada says that sport has a unique way of uniting people and that like athletes, Air Canada employees work hard to be the best and to bring the best of Canada to the world.

"As Canada's official airline, we believe our country deserves to be celebrated," says Benjamin Smith, President, Passenger Airlines at Air Canada. "The Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams represent the best of Canada, showing off the ambition and drive of our people. We're proud to be a piece of home connecting those athletes to their country while they're abroad, and helping to make sure they arrive ready to perform at their very best."

Canadian athletes will receive a “Care & Share” package onboard which consists of a neck pillow, blanket, socks sunglasses a pin and even some maple syrup. Air Canada is also renewing its Altitude Podium Program to provide qualified athletes 35K status and access to International Maple Leaf lounges while competing abroad and will sponsor the outdoor area, available to the public, at the Canadian Olympic House in PyeongChang.

To further show its support, Air Canada has entered into an agreement with five high-profile athletes who will be featured in a campaign beginning in January. They include figure skaters Patrick Chan, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir; freestyle skier (halfpipe) Cassie Sharpe; and Paralympic biathlon skier Mark Arendz.