Full-size digital experience connects families, friends and fans of Olympians in Canada with athletes in Rio

TORONTO, Aug. 10, 2016 /CNW/ - For the first time ever, Canadians will be given the opportunity to have a live look inside of Canada Olympic House and interact with Olympians through Canadian Tire's Red Door to Rio. The athletes, in turn, will have access to their largest-ever support network back home.

Canadian Tire's Red Door to Rio is a physical door structure that enables a full-size, digital experience facilitating real-time audio/video interactions that connect families, friends and fans of Olympians in Canada with athletes in Rio at Canada Olympic House – across a distance of more than 8,000KM. The Red Door to Rio will be located at various venues in Ontario and connects to the Red Door from Rio which is located in Canada Olympic House, in Rio.

"At Canadian Tire, we believe in the power of sport to unite families, communities, and the nation and we recognize the Olympics as a phenomenal time for Canadians to celebrate their country and its values," said Susan O'Brien, Head of Corporate Affairs, Canadian Tire Corporation. "As most Canadians will never have the opportunity to go to the Olympics, or visit Canada Olympic House, Canadian Tire is bringing the Olympics back to Canada through the Red Door to Rio. We are proud to provide a platform for Canadians to step up to show their support throughout the Olympic Games."

Throughout the Olympic Games, Canadians will have the unique opportunity to interact with athletes they know or have come to know through watching them compete, while athletes can connect with their friends, family and fans back home. The best part is – neither participant will know who to expect on either side of the door, which should result in surprising, engaging and memorable interactions. Canadian Tire's Red Door to Rio will go-live at different locations in Ontario, across two-weeks. 

Canadians are encouraged to share their Red Door to Rio experience and join the conversation on social media throughout the Olympics using the #StepUpStandTall. 'Step Up Stand Tall,' the theme behind Canadian Tire's Olympic campaign, is a celebration of Canadian values like sportsmanship and inclusiveness that demonstrate when the best of us steps up, our nation stands a little taller.

About Canadian Tire Corporation
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, (TSX:CTC.A) (TSX:CTC) or "CTC," is a family of businesses that includes a retail segment, a financial services division and CT REIT. Our retail business is led by Canadian Tire, which was founded in 1922 and provides Canadians with products for life in Canada across its Living, Playing, Fixing, Automotive and Seasonal categories. PartSource and Gas+ are key parts of the Canadian Tire network. The retail segment also includes Mark's, a leading source for casual and industrial wear, and FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport, Pro Hockey Life and Atmosphere), which offers the best active wear brands. The 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division and the tens of thousands of people employed across the Company. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

SOURCE CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED

Video with caption: "Video : Canadians will be given the opportunity to have a live look inside of Canada Olympic House and interact with Olympians through Canadian Tire’s Red Door to Rio.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20160810_C3190_VIDEO_EN_750889.mp4&posterurl=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20160810_C3190_PHOTO_EN_750889.jpg&order=1&jdd=20160810&cnum=C3190

Image with caption: "Canadian Tire's Red Door to Rio Provides Unprecedented Connection to Canada Olympic House. (CNW Group/CANADIAN TIRE CORPORATION, LIMITED)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160810_C3190_PHOTO_EN_750780.jpg