CIS Coaches ‘GO SHOELESS’ For Right To Play
CIS COACHES ‘GO SHOELESS’ FOR RIGHT TO PLAY
Coaches to go barefoot to raise awareness for those with
no access to organized sport or proper equipment
TORONTO (September 14, 2011), Right To Play and Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) are joining forces to host "Go Shoeless", an awareness campaign taking place on the weekend of September 16-18, 2011. Coinciding with CBC, True Sport and ParticipACTION's Sports Day in Canada, coaches from over 30 universities will go shoeless to raise awareness for those who do not have access to sports and proper sporting equipment.
As the leading international humanitarian and development organization, Right To Play uses the transformative power of sport and play to build essential life skills in children, thereby driving social change in communities worldwide affected by war, poverty and disease.
Robert Witchel, Right To Play’s Canadian National Director is thrilled with the opportunity to work with CIS: “Both Right To Play and CIS share a common interest in promoting sport as a tool for development and fair play. We’re proud of this meaningful campaign that not only supports every child’s right to play, but allows Canadian athletes to enrich their educational experience and create a safer and healthier world through sport.”
“We are delighted that CIS coaches across the country are taking off their shoes and braving the elements to raise awareness for every child’s right to play,” said Marg McGregor, chief executive officer of CIS. “CIS coaches are role models and leaders in their communities and this gesture sends an important message.”
During the inaugural “Go Shoeless” campaign, rugby, football and soccer coaches will be participating. A list of schools participating (as of September 13th, 2011) is as follows:
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will feature, as part of The Score’s University Rush broadcast, a football match-up between the University of Toronto and the University of Guelph which will feature the coaching staff sporting Right To Play ball caps and appearances by Right To Play ambassadors. (Guelph @ Toronto airs on September 17th at 1 p.m. EST live on The Score).
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For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Ashton Lawrence Michel Bélanger
Athlete and Media Relations Officer, Manager, Communications & Media Relations
Canadian National Office Right To Play Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Email: alawrence@righttoplay.com belanger@universitysport.ca
Phone: (416).203.0190 ext. 333 Phone: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
www.righttoplay.ca Cell: (613) 447-6334
www.twitter.com/RightToPlayCAN www.cis-sic.ca
About Right To Play: Right To Play is the leading international humanitarian and development organization using sport and play as tools to effect behaviour and social change. The organization works with over 15,000 trained Coaches and community leaders who implement Right To Play programs for 700,000 children and youth. Right To Play programs are designed to develop basic life skills, prevent diseases, teach conflict resolution and instill hope in children affected by war, poverty and disease in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America, and is supported by more than 350 elite Athlete Ambassadors from over 40 countries. Recently, Right To Play expanded its programs in Ontario to include 30 new First Nation communities.
ABOUT CIS: The governing body of university sport in Canada, Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) is comprised of 52 member institutions from across the country and features over 10,000 student-athletes and more than 600 coaches competing in 21 sports. CIS is committed to enriching the lives of student-athletes through a national sports program that fosters excellence both on the field and in the classroom. CIS is the destination of choice for Canadian student-athletes who wish to pursue excellence in academics and athletics.