Global Sports Development Announces 2012 Olympics Campaign

LOS ANGELES, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Sports Development (GSD), an organization dedicated to supporting programs that promote sportsmanship, education, fair play and ethics among the world's youth, announced its 2012 Olympics campaign initiatives today that will take place over the next several weeks in London.  GSD works closely with international sports federations and committed athletes to use sports and education to help kids from the most at-risk communities reach their full potential.  GSD's 2012 London Olympics campaign features the following initiatives: 

• London Symposium on Healthy Sport and the Legacy of Doping - On July 24, leading experts from the Olympic Family will discus new models of testing and adjudication, the education of young athletes and how best to deter drug-taking to ensure a level playing field for all athletes.  The event falls in line with one of GSD's key initiatives, the Culture, Education, Sport and Ethics Program (CESEP)™, an international educational outreach initiative to engage teachers and students from different countries and cultures in the dialogue of healthy sport.
• The War on Doping, an independent documentary film about the global fight against doping in sports.  GSD Executive Board member and psychologist Steven Ungerleider is featured in the film and will speak at the opening of the movie on July 26 in London.   Ungerleider has written numerous books and spent many years researching doping in sports and is dedicated to teaching kids about the importance of drug-free sports.
• Olympic Summer Camp for Underserved Kids - GSD will host 70 at-risk kids from Vancouver, Denver, and London to the Olympic Games from July 27-August 3.  GSD's Playmakers™ and CESEP™ programs have been present at the Olympics since 2002.  This year's students won the all-expenses paid trip by submitting an essay, writing a poem or creating a drawing that expressed their perception of sport and its values.  At the Games, they will have the opportunity to learn life lessons from Olympic and Paralympic athletes, visit historic and cultural sites in London and attend events during the Games. 
• Humanitarian Award: On July 28, GSD will present Sir Philip Craven, MBE, president of the International Paralympic Committee and member of the International Olympic Committee with the organization's 2012 Humanitarian Award.  The GSD Humanitarian Award recognizes the exemplary work of those individuals and organizations that have contributed to the development of better individuals and communities through sport.  The Awards recognize those who have striven for or enabled the development of sport and the opportunities it provides young people; provided an inspirational example for youth through an exemplary sporting career both on and off the field of play; or introduced sport in a way that improves the lives and lifestyles of a community. Sir Philip will receive a $100,000 grant for use toward advancing his interests in youth sport development. 

Dr. Steven Ungerleider, Executive Board Member of Global Sports Development, said "The Olympic Games provide youth with the ultimate setting to experience how competitive sports can bring people of all backgrounds together.  Children can learn life's most valuable lessons through sports, and we are looking forward to bringing them this once in a lifetime opportunity to be surrounded by and learn from the greatest athletes in the world."

In addition to the activity in London, GSD recently supported the World Mile Project of the Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck 2012 by sending 24 youngsters and six accompanying adults to the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games.  Pupils from 25 schools were invited to make collages based on the theme "What sport means to you" and the entries were then submitted to a panel made up of members of the Foundation of Global Sports Development and the Innsbruck 2012 Organizing Committee, which selected the six best entries. Each of the winning schools invited four pupils and one adult to Innsbruck between January 13-18, 2012.


To learn more about Global Sports Development's Olympic Campaign, please contact Lisa Cohen at [email protected] or 310-395-2544.  Media is welcome to cover the various events, ceremonies and activities.

About Global Sports Development
Working closely with international sports federations, generous donors and committed athletes, The Foundation for Global Sports Development supports programs that promote sportsmanship, education, fair play and ethics among the world's youth.  The Foundation gives special emphasis to groups and communities that are most in need or most underserved by current programs, including women, minorities and youth in areas where the risk of delinquency is particularly high.  Visit www.globalsportsdevelopment.org to learn more.

SOURCE Global Sports Development