RBC GranFondo Whistler and XFondo accepted into gender equity Same Game Challenge

February 28, 2024

Canadian Women and Sport program kicks off with 40 participating organizations

[Vancouver/Whistler, BC Canada] /SPORTSWIRE WOMEN/ – The organizing team behind the cycling events RBC GranFondo Whistler and XFondo announced today that they have been successfully accepted into the Canadian Women and Sport Same Game Challenge.

The Same Game Challenge “helps sport and physical activity organizations across Canada build their capacity to create more equitable and inclusive sport opportunities.”

During the Challenge, sport leaders will “develop the skills they need to work towards closing gender equity gaps and create positive, sustainable change in sport.”

Following an application process, 40 organizations were chosen to take part in the Challenge which runs from January to August 2024.

Oli Cartmell, Director at XFondo and RBC GranFondo Whistler said, “girls, women and gender-diverse individuals face unique obstacles to participating in many sports, including cycling. This program addresses these obstacles head on and helps us understand ways to create better and safer access to sport as event operators. The Same Game Challenge is an important step towards our goal of boosting female participation numbers within cycling.”

The current Same Game Challenge cohort will benefit from a program of learning, mentorship, strategic planning and strategic goalsetting.

Those in the program will receive a $1000 grant that can be used flexibly at the discretion of the participating organization to help support their aims of gender equity.

XFondo and RBC GranFondo Whistler will announce in due course the decision of how the funds will be allocated, and in addition encourage community discourse in shaping this decision. Members of the public can email the events directly via info@rbcgranfondo.com or info@xfondo.com

ABOUT RBC GRANFONDO WHISTLER

Established following the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, RBC GranFondo Whistler is an award-winning point-to-point cycling event between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada that takes annually place on the 2^nd weekend of September. On average, 5000 cyclists ride each year across different distance categories, both competitive and non-competitive. Through the event, over $350,000 has been donated in support of charitable causes since inception (rbcgranfondo.com/whistler).

ABOUT XFONDO

Born from the rugged beauty of Whistler BC’s backyards in 2022, XFondo is an all-terrain cycling challenge that happily eschews convention and does things its own way.

Currently offering a Whistler event annually in June and with plans for more locations in the future, around 300 riders test their skills over road, gravel, trail and dirt over 3 distance challenges, including the new for 2024 “Further” option. XFondo is a let your hair down, community-centric fun parade that ends in a tailgate style party with everything except the trucks.

(xfondo.com)

ABOUT CANADIAN WOMEN AND SPORT

Canadian Women & Sport is a national nonprofit with a 42-year history of work as the leading voice and authority on women and sport. We believe in the power of sport as a platform for advancing equity for women across all areas of society. As such, we are committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive sport system that empowers women and girls as participants and leaders, within sport and through sport.

(womenandsport.ca)

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Contacts:

For more information, please contact Media lead Oli Cartmell via oli@rbcgranfondo.com

Social: @WomenandSportCA @rbcgranfondo @itsxfondo

Contact: Oli Cartmell

RBC GranFondo Whistler

604-568-8648 x 225

oli@rbcgranfondo.com

rbcgranfondo.com/whistler