England and Manchester City star signs up to Special Olympics GB as a principal Ambassador
Special Olympics GB, the non-profit organisation and largest provider of year-round sports training and competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults of all abilities with intellectual disabilities, has announced that Jack Grealish, the 26-year-old England football star, has become a principal Ambassador.
Jack Grealish has committed to a long-term role with Special Olympics GB with the aim of raising visibility of the charity’s work throughout Great Britain and driving support and opportunities for the 1.5 million people who live with intellectual disabilities in Great Britain today.
Grealish, who became the most expensive English football player ever when he signed for Manchester City from Aston Villa last year for £100 million, has committed to using his platform to shine a light on the empowering role that Special Olympics GB plays in driving inclusion and creating possibilities for all individuals to be accepted regardless of ability or disability.
Jack Grealish said: “I’ve been thinking for some time about how I can best use the platform football has given me to create a positive change, and it had to be something really close to my heart.
“Special Olympics GB is such an important organisation, playing a huge role in tackling the lack of inclusion for hundreds of thousands of kids in the UK with intellectual disabilities. Nobody should be excluded from opportunities, and I can’t stand bullying or discrimination!
“In my new role with Special Olympics GB, I’m proud to stand side-by-side with all the children, young people and adults living with intellectual disabilities, and the incredible families who support them.
“I hope that everyone in Great Britain gets behind Special Olympics GB and its incredible athletes and volunteers. So please follow Special Olympics GB on their social channels and together we can start to make a real difference.”
Colin Dyer, CEO of Special Olympics GB said: “Everyone at Special Olympics is delighted and excited Jack has agreed to join Special Olympics GB as a principal Ambassador.
“After a truly challenging time for many people during the pandemic, particularly those with intellectual disabilities, there is so much positive momentum in Special Olympics GB at this time, it is the perfect moment to welcome Jack to the family.
“We look forward to continuing to add to our diverse group of Ambassadors to accompany Jack on his new mission with Special Olympics GB in the near future.”
Paul Richardson, Chair of Special Olympics GB said: “The fact that Jack’s made the choice to align his brand with Special Olympics GB is testament to the importance of the work we are committed to doing and the ambitious growth plans ahead.
“Jack shares our vision for an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives.
“We are looking forward to working together with Jack and his team to make this a reality and I hope that everyone who doesn’t know about Special Olympics GB or intellectual disabilities will check out our Special Olympics GB website and social media platforms to see the massive, diverse and inspiring community we are proud to represent.”
Niall Guite, Special Olympics World Games gold medallist, artist, and member of the Special Olympics GB Athlete Leadership Team, said: “I love football so much and it’s amazing to be on the same team as Jack Grealish! To have such an important player and public figure supporting our community gives us all so much energy and motivation. Thanks Jack and welcome to Special Olympics GB!”
Special Olympics GB has ambitious growth plans for 2022 including the return to full-scale competition from June to September with the largest celebration of intellectual disability sport in Great Britain with a brand-new format, The Special Olympics GB Summer Series of Sport. And 2023 is also set to be a big year for Special Olympics GB with the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Berlin next June.
Having Jack Grealish cheering on #TeamSOGB will be truly special for all the amazing athletes involved.
To access an image and video of Jack Grealish please click on this link: Jack Grealish – Special Olympics GB – Google Drive
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About Special Olympics GB
- Special Olympics Great Britain (GB), set up in 1978, is a non-profit charity which provides year-round sports coaching and athletic competition in summer and winter sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
- Special Olympics GB currently has 95 accredited programmes in England, Scotland and Wales and provides coaching and competition opportunities in 27 sports. These programmes are run by over 3,500 volunteers who support more than 6,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities to take part.
- Special Olympics GB is more than just an opportunity to take part in sport – it transforms lives. It provides opportunities to increase confidence, realise potential, develop physical fitness and mental well-being, demonstrate courage and experience new friendships. And above all for both athletes and their families – to have some FUN.
- The work of Special Olympics GB is currently funded by individuals, trust and corporate donations and financial support is crucial to enable us to continue our work.
- Over a quarter of British adults (26%) have had heard of Special Olympics GB and 98% think that it is an inspirational organisation. (Two Circles, National Representative Omnibus Survey for Special Olympics GB)
About Special Olympics
- Special Olympics is a global, IOC (International Olympic Committee) recognised organization.
- Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics now reaches more than five million athletes in over 190 countries.
- Unlike the Olympics and Paralympics which focuses on elite sport with events every four years, Special Olympics aims to offer opportunities for athletes of ALL abilities to take part in a range of sport every day of the week, every week of the year.
About Intellectual Disability
- An intellectual disability (ID) is: ‘A significantly reduced ability to understand new or complex information, to learn new skills (impaired intelligence) with a reduced ability to cope independently (impaired social functioning) which started before adulthood, with a lasting effect on development’ Source: Department of Health (2001) Valuing People.
- There are an estimated 1.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in Great Britain (Source: Papworth Trust 2010).
- Two hundred babies are born each week with intellectual disabilities in the UK (Source: Papworth Trust 2010).
- Eight out of ten children with intellectual disabilities are bullied and ALL are socially excluded. (Source: Mencap 2007).
- Further statistics surrounding intellectual disabilities and the impact of Covid can be found on our website HERE.
- Changing social activities and a changing environment mean that younger generations* have more of a connection to or are aware of people with ID (*under 45 years old). (Two Circles, National Representative Omnibus Survey for Special Olympics GB)