The organizers of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics have signed a deal that is nothing to sneeze at.

CV Technology Inc., the maker of Cold-fX, has signed on as an official supplier for the Games.

The specific value of the deal was not made public when it was announced at the Olympic Oval in Richmond, south of Vancouver, on Tuesday, but as an official supplier, the company has to contribute a minimum of $3 million to the Games.

The cold and flu capsules, worth about 30 cents each, will be available to Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) staff, Canada's Olympic teams in 2010 and 2012, and within the Olympic and Paralympic villages during the 2010 Winter Games.

The deal comes as two leading Olympic sponsors, Nortel and General Motors, battle severe financial problems.

Nortel filled for bankruptcy protection last week, while GM is still negotiating a bailout with both the Canadian governments and U.S. government.

Health Canada approved claims

Cold-fX is marketed as a daily defence against colds and flu by the Edmonton-based company. Its primary medicinal ingredient is derived from ginseng root.

Its claims to reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system were approved by Health Canada in 2007.

As part of the sponsorship deal, Cold-fX will be reviewed by the NSF Athletic Banned Substances Certification Program to minimize the risk to athletes of testing positive for banned substances.

The deal was endorsed by Canadian Olympic superstar Clara Hughes, who said she has been using Cold-fX for six years.