Three of Newfoundland and Labrador's elite athletes — Ciaran Hearn (rugby), Nick Roberts (weightlifting) and Katarina Roxon (swimming) are just days away from competing in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, taking place October 3-14 in Delhi, India.

"These incredible athletes are to be congratulated for their ongoing pursuit of athletic excellence," said the Honourable Terry French, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. "Having the opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth Games, one of the world's most prestigious athletic competitions, is a remarkable achievement, and I wish Ciaran, Nick and Katarina all the best."

Since the launch of the Provincial Government's recreation and sport strategy, Active, Healthy Newfoundland and Labrador (2007), almost $8.8 million has been invested in programs and services designed to support athlete development.

"The Provincial Government is committed to the advancement of recreation and sport in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister French. "Year after year our investment for programs such as the Newfoundland and Labrador Games, the Canada Games and the Premier's Athletic Awards continue to provide tangible results. These programs are invaluable to our elite athletes as they train and compete at the national and international level."

For more information on the 2010 Commonwealth Games, visit: www.commonwealthgames.ca

Budget 2010: The Right Investments — For Our Children and Our Future provides about $7 million, including over $1.2 million in new funding, to improve existing recreation and sport programming and to introduce new initiatives. In the past four year years, more than $70 million in Provincial Government funding has been committed to recreational and sport infrastructure, programming, and athlete development.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca  　

Ciaran Hearn, 24, is a native of Conception Bay South. He recently celebrated a Canadian National Rugby Championship as a member of The Rock, Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial rugby team. At these Commonwealth Games, Mr. Hearn will be a part of history, as he will compete in the Rugby Sevens tournament — the first of its kind showcased in a multi-sport setting since it was added to the Olympic program for the 2016 Olympic Summer Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro.

Nick Roberts, 26, of St. John's, is a Canadian weightlifting record holder and a 2010 national weightlifting champion in the 94-kilo weight class. He placed 6^th at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. Most recently, Mr. Roberts competed in the 2010 World Weightlifting Championships, held in September in Turkey.

At 17, Katarina Roxon of Kippens has won numerous awards in provincial, national and world swimming events. In 2008, she was named to the 2008 Canadian Paralympic Team and was the only Newfoundlander and Labradorian represented at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. The Commonwealth Games is the only international, multi-sport event where athletes with a disability are fully integrated into the competition program.