Kelly Mann hardly raised an eyebrow to the CanucksB次元官网网址� spectacular win of Round 1 in the playoffs this week.

To be fair, no one is more passionate about sports than Mann. As far as heB次元官网网址檚 concerned, youth athletics and the surrounding community are where itB次元官网网址檚 at.

The president and CEO of B.C. Games has guided the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Summer and Winter Games to great heights through a passion for sports.

Mann was in Vernon last week to help the host city launch the official countdown for the 2012 B.C. Winter Games, set for Feb. 23-26.

In tandem with the launch, Mann announced a four-year partnership between the Games and Black Press, parent company of the Victoria B次元官网网址.

B次元官网网址淲hile we sponsor literally thousands of events each year, The Games, both winter and summer, are on a scale that is one of the largest opportunities to engage our readers across B.C.,B次元官网网址� said Candy Hodson, senior vice-president of national sales and marketing for Black Press.

B次元官网网址淚n covering the B.C. Games it allows Black Press to also showcase our best: we bring together B次元官网网址榣ocalB次元官网网址� on a provincial scale,B次元官网网址� she said.

Mann agreed the shared focus on athletic promotion in the community between the B.C. Games and Black Press is a perfect fit.

B次元官网网址淏lack Press papers and the Winter and Summer Games are in virtually every community in B.C.

B次元官网网址淏lack Press will provide extensive coverage and advertising to support the B.C. Games and share the story of how the Games impact athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and communities.B次元官网网址�

The partnership will coincide with three games: the 2012  Summer Games in Surrey and the 2014 Winter and Summer Games in Mission and Nanaimo, respectively.

From his downtown Victoria office, Mann overlooks the antique section of Fort Street. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a few blocks down the road from Oak Bay High, where he graduated in 1976.

It was there that Mann became deeply connected to the values of youth sports, playing and managing school teams.

HeB次元官网网址檚 been with B.C. Games since 1992 but also co-founded the Kidsport Greater Victoria chapter in 2002, one of the most successful in the country.

When president Randy Blair of Black PressB次元官网网址� Lower Mainland division proposed the newspaper chain become one of three corporate sponsors, Mann knew the opportunity at hand.

B次元官网网址淲e want people to understand the competitive support system in athletic development in B.C.,B次元官网网址� Mann said.

B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 hear of Ryder Hesjedal as a B.C. Games athlete, you hear of him as a Tour de France competitor. We talk about athletes like they fell out of a tree but really theyB次元官网网址檝e had a support network since they were eight. This (partnership) will add greater depth to the role of athletes and the support network of the development stage.B次元官网网址�

sports@vicnews.com