Fuente: © FIBA (Federación Internacional de Basket)
http://www.fiba.org/

FIBA: ENG - John Amaechi announced as Ambassador

/noticias.info/ SHEFFIELD (London Olympics) - Special Olympics Great Britain today announced John Amaechi, NBA basketball star is to become the organisation's latest sporting Ambassador.

Amaechi, a Briton who started 294 games in an 8-year stint in America's National Basketball Association received special recognition in the NBA's Hall of Fame for scoring first points in the new millennium.

He is currently the captain of the England Basketball team and will lead them to the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in March 2006. He is also working with the government on developing a network of basketball and community centres throughout the UK, as well as enjoying a busy broadcasting career and working as a psychologist / mentor.

Amaechi's first engagement for the charity will be attending London's Elephant & Castle Leisure Centre on Monday 28th November 10.30am -2.30pm to support over 50 local school children with learning disabilities at a Basketball Skills & Competition event as part of the organisation's Annual Basketball Week.

Karen Wallin, Operations Manager, SOGB says, "Special Olympics European Basketball Week is an annual focus event across Europe and is supported by FIBA.

The concept is to have one dedicated week each year where the Basketball community join in reaching out to expand opportunities for players with learning disabilities.

We are absolutely delighted that John has agreed to become an Ambassador for SOGB.

As we strive to raise the profile of the work we do across Great Britain in providing year-round sports opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities, to have someone of John's distinction will have a major impact for the organisation as a whole."

Amaechi says 'I'm thrilled to be working in this capacity with Special Olympics in the UK - it's an organisation that I have been associated with for many years and their work pushing back the boundaries on the sports field is outstanding. It's vitally important that sport is made as accessible to all sections of the community and Special Olympics makes that more of a reality."

In 2005, Special Olympics European Basketball Week will be held across Europe between 26th November-4th December 2005 and is expected to involve 10,000 players from 30 countries.

In Great Britain, a series of local events across London and the South-East are planned and are expected to attract over 400 athletes.

London Region: A series of coaching and competition events will take place within four quadrants of the London area (SE,SW,NE and NW), involving over 50 athletes with learning disabilities at each event.

Coaches from the London South Bank University will be on hand to assist with delivering high quality coaching sessions, followed by an afternoon of competitions for participants.

South East Region: Special Olympics Brighton & Hove will host a basketball tournament, involving coaches from the Brighton Cougars, as well as new and existing Special Olympics groups from the local area and inviting teams from London and Southern Regions.

Approximately 70-90 athletes will be taking part. notas_de_prensa_archivo