Vancouver 2010 Release and Waiver Of Liability and Authorization Agreement

Important:  this is a legal commitment; read in full and understand before agreeing to, and accepting, the terms hereunder

You have expressed a desire to volunteer with the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (“VANOC”).  As a volunteer, you will be engaged in certain activities and will perform certain duties (collectively, “Activities”) that will be assigned to you from time to time, which may be related to or associated with any number of activities or events relating to the 2010 Winter Games.  The Activities may be undertaken before, during or after the 2010 Winter Games including, if applicable, Activities performed during Sport Events prior to the 2010 Winter Games (i.e. major national or international events, such as World Cups or World Championships that will take place in the Vancouver and Whistler area in 2009 in which VANOC will be involved as part of its preparations for the 2010 Winter Games).

THERE IS A RISK THAT YOU MAY BE HURT DURING YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A VOLUNTEER FOR VANOC.   IF YOU ARE UNWILLING TO ASSUME ALL THE RISKS OF YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A VOLUNTEER, DO NOT ACCEPT THE TERMS CONTAINED HEREIN, IN WHICH CASE YOU WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO VOLUNTEER FOR VANOC.

In order to volunteer, you must accept and agree to the terms contained herein, which is a Release and Waiver of Liability and Authorization Agreement (“Release”) in favour of VANOC (and its third party producers of ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, including David Atkins Enterprises Productions Canada Limited and Patrick Roberge Productions Incorporated), the International Olympic Committee, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, sponsors and government partners of VANOC and owners/operators of 2010 Winter Games venues and each of their respective affiliates and assigns together with all of the directors, officers, employees, volunteers, affiliates, agents, representatives of each of the foregoing (collectively, all such parties are the “Released Parties”) and by doing so, in consideration of you being accepted to participate as a volunteer for VANOC and for other good and valuable consideration (the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged), you agree as follows:

1.     Assumption of Risk.  I understand that the Activities may include activities that could be hazardous to me, including Activities that involve many inherent risks and dangers and that may put me at risk of serious injury or illness, including death.  I acknowledge that these risks and dangers may arise from any number of circumstances, including those caused by, among other things, physical activities which may be performed in lighted or unlighted areas, equipment and staging, facilities, special effects and obstacles used in any performance, vehicular traffic, participants in the Activities, terrain, weather conditions, failures to follow safety procedures, and actions of other people any of which may occur in venues or during performances or rehearsals.  I further acknowledge that there may be other hazards and other risks may exist, that they may occur without warning, and that safety equipment, supervision and enforcement of rules do not guarantee my safety.  I hereby expressly and specifically assume the risk of injury or harm in the Activities. 

2.     Medical Treatment.  If I am unable to consent at the time due to injury or illness, I hereby consent to the administration of first aid and other emergency medical treatment for such injury or illness that occurs during any of my participation in the Activities and release and forever discharge the Released Parties from any claim whatsoever which may arise on account of any such first-aid treatment or other medical services. 

3.     WAIVER AND RELEASE.  TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, I HEREBY FOREVER RELEASE, WAIVE, COVENANT NOT TO SUE, EXONERATE, DISCHARGE AND AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS THE RELEASED PARTIES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, AND CAUSES OF ACTION WHATSOEVER THAT I MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASED PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO ANY INJURY, ILLNESS, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR OTHER LOSS THAT MAY RESULT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM MY PARTICIPATION IN ANY OF THE ACTIVITIES, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE. 

4.     Consent, Authorization and Grant.  I acknowledge that, from time to time, any of the Released Parties may wish to take photographs, video, audio or other recordings which may capture my name, image and likeness (“Images”), either individually or as part of a group.  I further acknowledge that any of the Released Parties may wish to use such Images, both internally and externally, for administrative purposes and/or for purposes associated with, but not limited to, the marketing, promotion and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.  I hereby unconditionally and irrevocably consent, authorize and grant to the Released Parties the right to use, reproduce, display, distribute and make derivative use of my voice, image and likeness (in any and all media) recorded while engaging in the Activities for and on behalf of VANOC and acknowledge that no royalties, fees or other compensation whatsoever will be provided to me in connection thereto.  I further hereby release the Released Parties from any and all claims which I may now or in the future have relating to ownership, use, reproduction, display, distribution or other exploitation of the materials produced by, or at the direction of, any Released Party which contain my name, voice, image or likeness.  

5.     Privacy.  I hereby acknowledge and consent that VANOC may collect, use and disclose my personal information to: (i) any of the Released Parties for purposes that VANOC identifies as necessary and reasonable for my involvement as a volunteer and participation in the Activities and (ii) the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for security and accreditation purposes. 

6.     Jurisdiction.  I agree that this Release and any rights, duties and obligations contemplated herein shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of British Columbia and no other jurisdiction.  Any litigation relating to the subject matter hereof shall be brought solely within the Province of British Columbia under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of British Columbia.

7.     Other.  I expressly agree that this Release is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted by the laws of the Province of British Columbia.  I agree that in the event that any clause or provision of this Release shall be held to be invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, the invaliding of such clause or provision shall not otherwise affect the remaining provisions of this Release which shall continue to be enforceable.  I further agree that this Release shall bind my assigns, heirs, administrators and executors forever.