Michael Phelps to Participate at Doha GOALS Forum in Los Angeles

DOHA, Qatar, July 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Doha GOALS, the world's leading platform focusing on sports as a driver of social change, announced that Olympic swimming legend, Michael Phelps will be one of several world-class athletes participating in the Forum, which takes place from July 25-27, 2015 in Los Angeles – the first time the event has been held outside Qatar.  

"I am honored to join several world-class athletes and global leaders at Doha GOALS Forum to discuss how sport can help drive social change," said Phelps. "My dream has always been to change the sport of swimming and I have seen first-hand how sport can positively impact communities. I started the Michael Phelps Foundation because I wanted to create a program that would incorporate the skills I utilized in my swimming career in a way that would be beneficial to a much larger audience. I am proud to say that we have reached more than 10,000 children and young adults through our signature program in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Special Olympics International. I look forward to sharing my personal experiences and hearing inspiring stories from others as we talk about ways to continue to utilize the power of sport for the greater good."

Joining Phelps at Doha GOALS will be the following legendary athletes:

• Yao Ming – Professional basketball legend and global humanitarian
• Nadia Comenici – Three time Olympic gold medal gymnast
• Chris Klein – President, LA Galaxy and former professional soccer player
• Carl Lewis – Nine time Olympic gold medalist in track and field
• Bart Conner – Two time Olympic gold medal gymnast
• Jamal Mashburn – Former professional basketball All-Star and collegiate All-American
• Marcellus Wiley – Former pro football star turned analyst
• Mark Spitz – Nine time Olympic champion swimmer
• Elana Meyer – Olympic silver medalist, long distance track
• Seb Coe – Two time Olympic gold medalist, track and field
• Meryl Davis – 2014 Olympic gold medal ice dancer
• Yuna Kim– 2010 Olympic gold medalist, figure skater
• Jason Collins – Former professional basketball player

"We are proud to have an elite list of global athletes participating in this year's Doha GOALS Forum because we know this diversity greatly enhances our panel discussions," said H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani, Executive Director of Doha GOALS. "These world class athletes are both champions in their sport as well as leaders in the community and we appreciate their commitment toward achieving our mission of social impact via sport."

Doha GOALS is a call to action for policymakers, NGOs, business leaders and athletes to present ideas for reform in sports, as well as ideas of how sports can be used to influence public policy. This year's Forum will debate topics such as:

• The Evolution of the Special Olympics into a Global Social Movement
• How Sports can lead in creating a more tolerant society
• Impact of athlete activism on the environment and social issues
• How can we leverage the Power of Sports in Tackling Obesity

This year, Doha GOALS Forum, produced by Richard Attias & Associates, will partner with Special Olympics for the three-day summit, which takes place during the week of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. 

To date, the Doha GOALS Forum has brought together more than 5,000 participants from 70 countries to discuss how sport can be used to solve some of the world's greatest social and economic challenges. "This year in particular, we are very excited to support the Special Olympics World Games, host over 400 university students from many of the top North American Sports Management Programs and proud to be associated with many grassroots community organizations in the Greater Los Angeles area. This is the true meaning of Sport," said Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani, Executive Director of Doha GOALS.

For media enquiries, contact Coraline Bardinat [email protected], 212-794-8801
For all other enquiries, email [email protected].  www.dohagoals.com 

About Doha GOALS Forum

Doha GOALS is the world's premier platform focusing on sport as a driver of social and economic change. Doha GOALS, the Gathering Of All Leaders in Sport, convenes each year to create partnerships and initiatives for global progress through sport. From July 25-27, 2015, the Doha GOALS Forum will partner with Special Olympics for the three-day summit in Los Angeles, the first Forum held outside Qatar. Four key themes thread through this fourth Doha GOALS Forum: building a movement through sport, the imperative for inclusion, sport's power to create bridges across divides in our societies, and sport as a catalyst for transformation and change. Join the conversation on: Twitter @dohagoals; Facebook.com/DohaGoals; Instagram @doha_goals; YouTube @dohagoals; #dohagoals.

SOURCE Doha GOALS Forum

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