The Canadian High Commissioner, Gordon Campbell, will give a talk on how to get the best out of the 2012 Olympic Games at the University of Ulster tomorrow.
Mr Campbell was Premier of the Province of British Columbia when Vancouver hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2010.
He played a key role in bringing the Games to the city and is a great believer in the positiveeffects hosting the Olympics can haveon a country.
"I'm delighted to be making my first visit to Belfast as Canada's High Commissioner. Canada and Northern Ireland have deep historic ties. Northern Irish migrants brought energy and ideas to a new country. And thoseconnectionsare just as relevanttoday, with strong business, political and academiclinks," said High Commissioner Campbell.
"This year is a special one in the United Kingdom, as we prepare for the Olympic Games. I have been lucky enough to see first-hand how the Olympics can bring people together for maximum benefit. They provide alasting social and economic legacy for everyone."
The diplomatis the guest of the Canadian Studies Research Programme at the Institute for Research in Social Sciences and the Ulster Sports Academy.
Susan Hodgett, Director of Canadian Studies at the University, said: “Gordon Campbell was the recipient of the Canadian Olympic Order from the Canadian Olympic Committee for his dedication to the Olympic movement. During the Vancouver Olympics he went above and beyond the call of duty by riding a zip wire highabove the city.
“We are delighted to have such a ‘high-flying’diplomathere at the University of Ulster to talk about excellence in sport and in other areas of life, and we look forward to hearing what he has to say about ‘Going for Gold’."
MrCampbell assumed his responsibilities as Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in September 2011. Prior to this he was Premier of British Columbia and a three-time mayor of the city of Vancouver. The Fraser Institute ranked him the best fiscal manager among Canadian premiers in 2010.