U.S. Sprints Superstar joins Right To Play as Athlete
Ambassador

Track star Allyson Felix joins Right To Play as an Athlete Ambassador ahead of London Olympics 

TORONTO, CANADA (September 22, 2011) – The world’s leading Sport for Development organization, Right To Play, is honored to announce that American track superstar Allyson Felix is joining ranks as the organization’s newest Athlete Ambassador.

“I am extremely excited to be an Athlete Ambassador for Right To Play,” says Felix.  “It is an organization that has helped so many children throughout the world with sport and play program – something that has been incredibly important in my life. Every single child in the world has the right to play and I am looking forward to doing my part to make that happen.”

The 25-year-old sprinter won the women’s 400 meters competition at the U.S. National Championships in June, making her the first woman to win national titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meters races.  Felix’s summer success continued with four medals at the 2011 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in South Korea, including gold in the 4x100- and 4x400-meter women’s relays.

A three-time Olympic medalist, Felix is a dominant force on the track and is eager to apply that same passion to her role as an Athlete Ambassador.

Appearing in her third Olympics, Felix hopes not only to expand her medal collection at the London 2012 Games, but also use her profile and ambassadorial role to help raise awareness about Right To Play.

“(2012) is going to be an exciting year for Allyson Felix, London and Right To Play,” says Kate Burt, UK National Director, Right To Play.  “I speak on behalf of all of Right To Play when I say that we are so excited to have Allyson joining us as an Athlete Ambassador and her ongoing success on the track will no doubt translate into an incredible increase in awareness of our work.”   

Right To Play will have a strong presence at the London 2012 Olympic Games.  The organization’s World of Play pavilion will be an interactive venue located near the Olympic Park, where media, supporters, sponsors and the general public can come to soak up the atmosphere of the Olympics Games, learn about Right To Play’s impactful work and meet dedicated athletes like Felix.

To learn more about Right To Play, visit www.righttoplay.ca. 

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For more information:

Kyla Pearson
Communications Coordinator
Right To Play International
Tel: 416.498.1922 x240
Mobile: 416.949.3301
kpearson@righttoplay.com

 
About Right To Play

Right To Play is the leading international humanitarian and development organization using sport and play as tools to effect behavior and social change. Our trained Coaches and community leaders implement our programs which are designed to develop basic life skills, prevent diseases, teach conflict resolution and instill hope in children affected by war, poverty and disease. Right To Play implements programs in 20 countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America. A pioneer in its field, Right To Play sets standards for quality sustainable programming, promotes best practices and advances research on the efficacy of sport-based development efforts. Founded in 2000 by Johann Olav Koss, four-time Olympic gold medalist and social entrepreneur, Right To Play fosters the hope and skills that are essential to envisioning and realizing a better future.

For more information about Right To Play or to make a donation, visit www.righttoplay.ca

About Allyson Felix

Born on November 18, 1985, Allyson Felix grew up in Los Angeles, California.  It was only 10-weeks after her first tryout for the high school track team that she was racing at the California State Finals.  Allyson went on to break Marion Jones’ high-school 200-meter record in April 2003, by running 22.51 seconds.  Just weeks later, she competed in the Banamex Grand Prix in Mexico City, running a 22.11 second 200-meter race – a new world record in the under-20 category.  Emerging as the new American female sprinter to watch, Allyson went on to win Olympic Gold in 2008, as well as two Olympic Silver medals. Under the tutelage of Coach Bob Kersee, she has become a six-time World Champion and the first woman to win three consecutive 200-meter titles at the IAAF World Championships. In June, Allyson became the first woman in American history to win National Championships in the 100m, 200m, and 400m.  At only 25-years-old, Allyson is an accomplished track athlete, but has still made time to graduate from USC with an Elementary Education degree, be a member of President Obama’s Fitness, Sport, and Nutrition Council, and teach Sunday School at her church. 

For more information on Allyson Felix, visit: http://www.allysonfelix.com/