Anthony Pollock pauses beside the iconic Olympic rings in Milan, as the Winter Games are set to begin later this week. (SUBMITTED BY ANTHONY POLLOCK/University of Windsor)
By Sara Meikle
For many sports fans, the Olympic Games unfold over two thrilling weeks.
But for Anthony Pollock, a University of Windsor Human Kinetics alumnus working with the Canadian Olympic Committee, the journey to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games has been years in the making.
A graduate of UWindsor’s Sport Management and Leadership program, Pollock now works as an account executive on the Canadian Olympic Committee’s marketing partnerships team, where he collaborates with partners to activate initiatives aligned with the values of Team Canada.
After spending two years in the organization’s commercial affairs department navigating the complex world of Olympic rights, Pollock said he has enjoyed the shift to a role that leverages creativity to bring people together to produce incredible results.
“It’s rewarding to help partners bring their plans to life in a way that fits within the Olympic movement and supports the future of sport in Canada,” he said.
While Toronto is his day-to-day base, Pollock will take on a separate, specialized contract while onsite in Milan. For one month, he will work in an outfitting role, organizing and distributing Team Canada’s official Lululemon apparel to ensure athletes and staff are fully prepared for key Olympic moments.
“When the team arrives, everything needs to be ready,” Pollock said. “There’s a lot of work behind the scenes so that athletes only need to focus on performing.”
That attention to detail reflects a broader reality of Olympic work that fans rarely see.
Planning for the Milano Cortina Games began years ago, while the Paris 2024 Olympics were still underway, and preparations for future events — including Los Angeles 2028 — are already in motion.
“People joke and ask if we only work every two years,” Pollock said with a laugh. “But we’re always working, often on multiple Games at once.”
As he prepares to head overseas, the experience is both exciting and reflective.
“Working in sport in Canada, the Olympics are one of those pinnacle goals,” he said. “To be onsite and see different nations and cultures come together through sport — that’s what I’m most excited about.”
That appreciation for sport as a global connector took shape during Pollock’s time at UWindsor.
He credits an Olympic-focused course taught by Professor Scott Martyn with introducing him to the broader international sport landscape and the Olympic movement.
“In Windsor, I naturally grew up on American sports,” he said. “The University of Windsor helped me understand how powerful the Olympics are in bringing the world together.”
Equally influential was Pollock’s experience as a student-athlete, playing five years of men’s soccer with the Windsor Lancers — an experience he said strengthened his communication skills, adaptability and sense of responsibility.
“Being part of a team with individuals from different backgrounds, all working toward one goal, taught me a lot,” he said. “That translates directly to the Olympic environment.”
Pollock also sees strong parallels between UWindsor and the culture at the Canadian Olympic Committee, particularly when it comes to accountability.
“At the COC, people work hard and that effort is recognized,” he said. “I felt a similar level of accountability at UWindsor as a student-athlete. Knowing you have a role to play in something bigger than you is pretty meaningful.”
He also draws inspiration from the Olympians who now work alongside him.
“Being on a team with people who have competed at the highest level elevates everything we do,” Pollock said. “It sets a standard for accountability and performance, and it pushes everyone to bring their best every day.”
As Pollock prepares to support Team Canada on the world stage, he remains grateful for the foundation UWindsor provided. And while the Olympics represent a major career milestone, his long-term aspirations could bring him full circle.
“One day, I’d love to find myself back in the community that raised me and work in the UWindsor athletics department,” he said. “That’s the dream.”
For now, Pollock heads to Milan carrying with him the lessons and experiences shaped at UWindsor — a reminder of how far his journey has taken him and the opportunity that lies ahead on the Olympic stage.