International delegation of Olympic athletes visit Ethiopia to inspire children and coaches participating in Right to Play programs
– Power of Sport and Play to Promote Disability Rights and Female Empowerment –
Clara Hughes and Beckie Scott return from Ethiopia on behalf of Right To Play.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – May 24, 2006 – International Olympic athletes, with a total of 17 Olympic medals between them, gather today at Tamenga Yaj School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as part of a “kick-off” ceremony for a week-long inspirational field mission that will reach out to children and volunteer Local Coaches in Ethiopia participating in Right To Play’s sport and play programs. These global Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors, representing Canada, the U.S.A., China, the Netherlands and Norway, are helping to raise awareness of the humanitarian potential of sport, and are helping to create a safer world for children through the power of sport and play.
“As an Olympian, I feel incredibly fortunate to have sport as such an important aspect of my life and development,” said Clara Hughes, Right To Play Athlete Ambassador, five-time Olympic medalist, Canada. “I’m thrilled to be able to share my life-building experiences through sport with children and volunteer Local Coaches in Ethiopia as a Right To Play Athlete Ambassador. There is nothing more inspirational or empowering than seeing first-hand how sport is able to have such a significant impact for so many children in Ethiopia.”
The following Right To Play Athlete Ambassadors will be in Ethiopia to help showcase the Sport for Development movement, discuss how sport has changed their lives, and how their involvement in Right To Play is improving the lives of children in Ethiopia and the world over:
| Clara Hughes (Canada) | Beckie Scott (Canada) |
| Deborah Gravenstijn (Netherlands) | Kate Johnson (U.S.A.) |
| Yang Yang A. (China) | Gao Hong (China) |
| Roar Ljokelsoy (Norway) |
Inclusion, Right To Play Guiding Principle: As one of Right To Play’s guiding principles, inclusion recognizes the importance of children who may be marginalized for reasons including gender and disability. In line with this guiding principle, 12 of the 54 Right To Play Local Coaches have a disability and 21 are female. The Athlete Ambassadors will have an opportunity to meet these Coaches and learn how Right To Play’s inclusive approach to programming has affected their lives.
“Social stigma continues to be a huge factor for people with a disability in Ethiopia. However, our Coaches with a disability have become very strong members and leaders in their communities,” said Andrea MacDonald, Country Representative, Right To Play Ethiopia. “For example, we have one Coach who went from hiding his prosthetic arm and rarely speaking, to addressing a group of over 100 community leaders and parents about his disability and how Right To Play has helped him to realize that everyone has the right to be an active member of the community.”
The international Athlete Ambassadors are visiting the local fields of Kirkos, Gulele and Addis Katema to take part in the sport and play activities of Right To Play Ethiopia with its local partners: Ethiopian Gemini Trust, Family Guidance Association Ethiopia, Ethiopian Paralympic Committee, GOAL Ethiopia, and Cheshire Rehabilitation Services.
Right To Play’s Play Day: The Athlete field mission will be officially “kicked off” on May 24th during a meeting for the Athlete Ambassadors in Addis Ababa. The following day, a Play Day will be held for a local community of Menagesha. At the Play Day, each Local Coach will be paired with an Athlete Ambassador to lead Right To Play activities in five individual, rotating stations. A total of 120 children will participate in the Play Day. After the Play Day, the children will be gathered to discuss the intrinsic lessons learned in the games.
“I look forward to seeing the children take part in the Play Day, especially females as some have newly been able to participate in such activities,” said Local Coach Haili Yesus. “I have heard many times now that parents of the children were initially unsure of allowing their children to participate in the Right To Play programs, but now they see what sport and play can do!”
Right To Play is: an athlete-driven, international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play as a tool for development of children and youth in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Right To Play began implementing programs in Ethiopia in 2005. A team of four Right To Play International Volunteers now work in Addis Ababa with five local partner organizations and a network of 107 Coaches who reach over 2,591 Ethiopian children with Right To Play sport and play programs. For additional information on Right To Play, please visit www.righttoplay.com.
