Vancouver Sports Director Not Headed to PyeongChang

(ATR) The former Salt Lake 2002 and Vancouver 2010 sports director is not punching a ticket to South Korea.

Cathy Priestner Allinger is leaving her post as CEO of the British Columbia amateur sports umbrella she organized after the 2010 Games, and - contrary to rumors -she said she isn’t seeking a return to a Games organizing committee.

"I’m not going to PyeongChang. I’m not tapping out either of working," said Priestner Allinger. "Whatever I do next, I’ll do something that’s more flexible, more project based that allowsme to have that balance I’m looking for."

She said she wants more time to devote to the consultancy she operates with husband Todd and free time for her family.

The Innsbruck 1976 silver medal-winning speedskater was the author of the Own the Podium high performance blueprint for the Canadian Olympic team at Vancouver 2010, where it set a host record with 14 gold medals. She helped the Russian Olympic Committee devise a similar plan before Sochi 2014.

After serving as sports director for SLOC for five years, Priestner Allinger held a similar executive vice president position with VANOC for six years. After the Vancouver Games, she helped spin off the sport division of 2010 Legacies Now into the B.C. Sport Agency, later rebranded ViaSport. It grants more than $16 million in taxpayer funds a year to 70 amateur sports organizations in B.C. and trains coaches and administrators.

Under Priestner Allinger, ViaSport opened a webcast division that produces live streamed coverage of major provincial, national and international events held in B.C.

Priestner Allinger, who is a board member of Toronto 2015 Pan American Games contractor Contemporary Security Canada, will contribute to the search for her replacement, which she hopes is complete by June.

Written by Bob Mackin

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