Right To Play honors NBC’s Dick Ebersol for life-long dedication creating a better world through the power of sport.

Olympians including Michael Phelps gather to salute one of the industry greats, almost $1 million raised for sport and play projects

New York, NY (September19, 2008) The international humanitarian organization Right To Play hosted an “Olympian-studded” Benefit Gala in New York City last night to honor Dick Ebersol, Chairman, NBC Universal Sports and Olympics. Mr. Ebersol was recognized for his Olympic broadcast coverage over the last two decades and his portrayal of the power of sport to overcome adversity and bridge divides. World-renowned Olympian, Michael Phelps, was in attendance to present the Right To Play Award, where he was joined by a host of Olympians and top athletes.

The evening was capped off by a generous donation by Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James Ebersol of $250,000 to Right To Play in memory of Teddy Ebersol. in total, the Benefit Gala raised clost to $1 million in funds for Right To Play's projects around the world.

 Dick Ebersol, an iconic name in sportscasting, has played groundbreaking roles in the fields of sports, entertainment and news since joining NBC in 1974. But he considers his crowning achievement to be establishing NBC Universal as the home of the Olympic Games - television’s most powerful franchise - through 2012.  Mr. Ebersol is a member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame and was awarded the Olympic Order, an honor periodically bestowed by the International Olympic Committee to recognize remarkable contributions to the Olympic Movement.

Mr. Ebersol commented, “It is a wonderful thing to watch athletes push themselves to be the best they can; to want to make their families and countries proud. But it is an entirely noble pursuit to dedicate oneself to building a happier and safer world for children through the power of sport and play. That is why I am truly thrilled to be honoured by Right To Play tonight.”

What could be more in sync with Mr. Ebersol’s passion to portray how sport can help overcome adversity than Right To Play which uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills, and foster peace for children and communities in the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Founded by an Olympian, Johann Olav Koss (four-time Gold Medalist, Speed Skating), Right To Play delivers its programs in more than 20 countries affected by war, poverty, and disease in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The organization is committed to every child’s right to play and aims to engage leaders in the area of sport, business, media and development to ensure every child benefits from the positive power of sport and play.

Right To Play is championed by an international team of top athletes from more than 40 countries.  These athletes generously donate their time to Right To Play to help raise awareness and funding for Right To Play projects. They act as role models for healthy lifestyle choices and inspire children.

“Sport has a unique and universal power to attract, motivate and inspire which makes it a highly effective tool for engaging and empowering individuals, communities and even countries. Never is this appeal more evident than during the Olympics. We are so pleased to honour Dick Ebersol with this Award as his broadcasting over the decades demonstrates his belief in the power of sport and play,” said Mr. Koss, President and CEO of Right To Play.

Fellow NBC sportscaster Bob Costas was the emcee for the evening. Mr. Costas has been at NBC since 1980, and during that time has front-lined many Olympics broadcasts for NBC including: Barcelona in 1992, Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, Salt Lake City in 2002, Athens in 2004, Turin in 2006, and most recently, the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

Right To Play has previously honoured celebrated humanitarian Nelson Mandela, and Jacques Rogges, the President of the International Olympic Committee.  

About Right To Play
Right To Play is an international humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, build life skills, and foster peace for children and communities affected by war, poverty and disease. Right To Play has projects in more than 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Top athletes from more than 40 countries already volunteer their support for the organization as Athlete Ambassadors. Right To Play programs aim to teach children important life skills and values, educate communities around health issues and disease prevention, encourage integration and tolerance and empower people to make a difference in their communities.

For more information, please contact:
Laura Currie
Right To Play, Director Intermational Communications
Office: (416) 498-1922 ext. 204
Cell: (416) 317 9447

EDITOR’S NOTE - The following Olympians attended the Gala:

Betsey Armstrong
A new addition to the Women’s US national water polo team, Armstrong debuted with the team at the 2006 FINA World League in Italy and helped get Team USA off to a solid start. Her shining moment was in the 2007 FINA World Championships where her in-goal tactics proved essential to beating Australia. As a Johnson & Johnson Hearts of Gold participant, Armstrong’s silver medal from the 2008 Olympic Games raised $15,000. Armstrong joined Right To Play as an Athlete Ambassador in 2008.

Natalie Coughlin
Coughlin is a woman of many firsts: she was the first woman to win back to back Olympic titles with her victories in the 100m backstroke event both in Athens and Beijing. Furthermore, she is the first American female swimmer to take home six medals in a single Olympic Games. As an athlete ambassador, her victories in Beijing raised raised $80,000 for Right to Play through the Hearts of Gold program. Her medals include 1gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze in the 100m backstroke, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay, 4x100m medley, 100m free, and the 200m IM, respectively.

Caryn Davies
Voted as Most Promising Oarswoman her first year of rowing at an Australian club, Davies has indeed had a promising career. After taking silver in the Women’s Eight at the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, Davies’ participation in Beijing was crucial as she helped her team reach for and win the gold.

Mark Gangloff
After taking gold in the 4x100m medley at the Athens Summer Games in 2004, Gangloff managed to overcome his silver medal streak from the US Nationals, US trials, and NCAA Championships and take gold at the Beijing Olympics as well. His second event at the Beijing Games was the 100m breaststroke where he placed eighth. Gangloff also appeared briefly in 2006’s The Guardian, a film about the US Coast Guard.

Michelle Guerette
Returning to Single Skulls at the Beijing Olympics after having competed in quadruple skulls in Athens, Guerette placed second in an extremely close race and was the first American to take the podium in the event in twenty years. Beyond being a veteran Athlete Ambassador, Michelle participated in Johnson & Johnson’s Hearts of Gold program where her silver medal raised $15,000. As an athlete ambassador, Guerette works hard to raise awareness for Right To Play in various ways including placing our logo on her training skull.

Katie Hoff
Hoff swam in six different events in Beijing and collected three medals: one silver and two bronze medals in the 400m freestyle, 400m IM, and 4x200m freestyle relay, respectively. Her performance at Olympic Trials was equally impressive as she was victorious in five events. Hoff first competed at the Olympic level at age 15 in the 2004 Athens Olympics where she was the youngest athlete at the games and finished seventh in the 200m freestyle.

Kate Johnson
An Olympic Silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, she is a nine-time US national team member, and a Gold medalist in the 2004 Rowing World Cup in Women’s Eight. Kate is an active Right To Play Athlete Ambassador and traveled to Ethiopia on a field visit in June 2006. Kate is also currently a member of the Young Trustee Committee.

Tim Morehouse
Morehouse has come a long way since using fencing to dodge gym class. A five-time member of the US National Team and an alternate for the 2004 US Olympic Team, Morehouse made noise at this Summer’s Olympic Games by earning a silver medal in the Team Sabre event. During his training for the Olympic Games, Morehouse joined Teach for America, a program aimed at teaching under-privileged youth in urban areas.

Heather Petri
Petri is one of two members of the U.S. Women’s Water Polo Team to have attended three Olympic Games. Taking home the silver medal at the 2008 Games in Beijing, Petri played alongside teammate Betsey Armstrong. She played alongside Armstrong during their trek to the Beijing Olympics that began with the 2006 World League Games. Petri has been an Athlete Ambassador since 2008.

Michael Phelps
Phelps has been an Olympic phenomenon since his debut at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 at age 15, where he finished fifth in the 200m fly. Four years later in Athens, Phelps did not disappoint expectations by bringing back six gold medals and two bronze. His quest for eight gold medals in eight swimming events at the Beijing Games became a challenge not only for himself but for swimming enthusiasts around the world. Phelps swept the games by taking first in the 400m IM, 4x100m freestyle relay, 200m free, 200m butterfly, 4 X 200m freestyle relay, 200m IM, 100m butterfly, and the 4 X 100m medley relay.

Wade Redden
Redden entered the NHL as the 2nd overall draft in 1995. Now as a defenseman for the New York Rangers, Redden is a seasoned professional having played at the Pro-level for twelve years. He has also played for Canada on an international scale seven times, bringing home 2 gold medals in the World Junior Championships and World Cup of Hockey.

Sanya Richards
After moving to the United States from Jamaica at the age of 12, life has been on the fast track for Richards. In 2006, Richards had a phenomenal season with 15 consecutive wins. Her Olympic debut came in 2004 at the Athens Summer Olympic Games where she took gold in the 4x400m relay. Richards made 2008 her year by again reclaiming gold in the 4x400m relay and taking bronze in the 400m individual race.

Donny Robinson
Born in Napa Valley, CA, Donny began competing in BMX events at the age of 6. Known for his aggressive take on the course, Robinson was pleased to represent Team USA at the debut of BMX racing at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Robinson received a bronze medal for his efforts. Prior to competing at the Olympics, Robinson competed in the Elite Men Supercross World Cup and was crowned the champion.

Lindsay Shoop
Shoop, a member of the national team for over three years, made her Olympic Debut at this summer’s Olympic Games for rowing in the Women’s Eight. Despite a late start in rowing at the University of Virginia in her Junior year, Lindsay’s athletic background and hard training paid off as she and teammates managed to bring home the gold from Beijing.

James Williams
A US Fencer, Williams came into his own by bringing back the silver medal for the Men’s Team Sabre Competition in this year’s Olympics. He is the first Ivy League male fencer to win an Olympic fencing medal in over sixty years. However, despite his Olympic triumph, Williams has decided to leave competitive fencing to pursue his MBA at Columbia Business School in New York City.