FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Golfer Padraig Harrington Joins Special Olympics As Global Ambassador for Golf Harrington to Advise Sports Resource Team & Support
Key Golf Related Initiatives to Drive Growth of Sport across Worldwide Movement
Dublin, Ireland - Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia announced today that Irish professional golfer Padraig Harrington has joined the Special Olympics family as the movement’s newest Global Ambassador. His announcement was made during a press event for the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Florida on Wednesday (May 7th) attended by Mary Davis, Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.
In his new role as a Global Ambassador for Golf, three-time major winner¸ Harrington will build on his worldwide profile to help spread the Special Olympics’ message of acceptance and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities across the world.
"I am thrilled to be invited to become the Special Olympics' Ambassador for Golf” said Padraig Harrington. “I believe that the game of golf can inspire Special Olympics athletes to reach for their goals and enjoy the benefits the game brings. I look forward to playing an active part in the exciting times ahead."
Harrington will specifically serve as an advisor to the Special Olympics Sports Resource Team on golf, offering his professional expertise to help further the sport of golf within the movement. Harrington will also take an active role on the golf range, as he will participate in special golf training sessions with athletes and coaches. In addition to sharing his golfing knowledge, he will front a recruitment campaign targeted towards securing more Special Olympics’ golf coaches. Overall, Special Olympics will partner with Harrington to implement golf programs and initiatives that will further spread respect for people with intellectual disabilities to an international audience.
“We are proud to have Padraig as part of the Special Olympics family,” said Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia Managing Director, Mary Davis whose team initiated the relationship with Harrington. “His commitment to supporting others and his international profile will be a great help for us to raise awareness for the respect of people with an intellectual disability not only within the golf community, but worldwide.”
Harrington joins a select group of athletes and celebrities who are dedicated to spreading the Special Olympics movement and message worldwide. These include names such as Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, Olympic medalists Michael Phelps, Michelle Kwan, Scott Hamilton and Nadia Comaneci; recording artist Joe Jonas; California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; boxing legend Muhammad Ali; and performer Vanessa Williams.
More than 200 million people worldwide have an intellectual disability, making it the largest disability group worldwide. Intellectual disability crosses racial, ethnic, educational, social and economic lines, and can occur in any family. One of five brothers, Harrington is from a close-knit family and is a family man himself, being married with two young boys. He believes that he can use the game of golf to inspire and motivate through his work as an ambassador for Special Olympics.
Three time major winner, Padraig Harrington, became the first European player to win back-to-back Major Championships when he added the 2008 USPGA Championship to the 2008 Open Championship crown, having been the first Irishman to win a Major in 60 years at the 2007 Open Championship. In addition, Harrington has been a member of Europe’s Ryder Cup team five times, won the 2006 European Tour Order of Merit, was the first Irish winner of the Irish Open for 25 years and has a total of 25 tournament titles worldwide. He has established the Padraig Harrington Charitable Foundation to provide funds to deserving beneficiaries throughout Ireland and the world.
ENDS
Contact:
Maureen Rabbitt
mrabbitt@specialolympics.org
T:+353 1 6755715/ 353 87 786 6001