Toyota a Proud Canadian Paralympic Team Partner at PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games

TORONTO, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - From March 9 to 18, elite Canadian athletes who have challenged their limits every day to chase their Paralympic dreams will be competing at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. The entire country will cheering them on and Toyota will be supporting them as the Official Mobility Partner of the Canadian Paralympic Team.

"The Paralympic athletes that represent our country on the international stage are an inspiration for every Canadian," said Cyril Dimitris, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) "Their stories of perseverance, courage and hard work encourage all of us to start our own impossible – and we're proud to support these athletes as they compete against the best in the world."

Toyota believes that mobility goes beyond cars. As the automotive industry faces a once-in-a-century revolutionary change, Toyota, encouraged by all of its stakeholders, aims to create a society that can offer all people the freedom to move.

Aiming to "achieve a peaceful and non-discriminatory society through sports" and to "contribute to a sustainable society through mobility," Toyota entered into an agreement with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in 2015 to become Worldwide Paralympic Partner.

Toyota also has agreements with the National Paralympic Committees (NPC) of 177 countries, a groundbreaking first for a Worldwide Paralympic Partner. In addition, Toyota has been asked by the IPC to help increase awareness and promote support for the Paralympics and its Para athletes through its local business operations in each country by supporting the activities of the local NPCs.

In November 2017, TCI announced that it would be an Official Partner of both the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Canadian Olympic Committee for the next eight years. Toyota will serve as the Official Mobility Partner of the Canadian Paralympic and Olympic teams through to 2024.

Showing its commitment to the Paralympic Movement, the Toyota-IPC partnership is strengthening the capacity of NPCs through the NPC Development Program. Launched in 2017 by the development arm of the IPC, the Agitos Foundation, the program seeks to enhance the organizational and management capacity of developing NPCs through sharing of knowledge and best practices, thereby increasing professionalism and enabling them to obtain more support from governments, corporations and development agencies. It also offers sport technical training to athletes, coaches and officials, all with the ultimate aim of creating sustainable pathways for Para athletes at all levels.

About Toyota Canada Inc.

Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over 5 million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability in the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is located in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax and parts distribution centres in Toronto and Vancouver. Toyota operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than seven million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include Toyota RAV4, Toyota Corolla, Lexus RX 350 and RX 450h hybrid.

SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc.