08/20/2001

Youth Athlete Ambassadors Selected for the 2001 Goodwill Games

The 2001 Goodwill Games' youth athlete ambassadors were selected today, Goodwill Games officials announced. Out of thousands of youth athlete ambassador hopefuls, five were chosen. The program winners, along with the sponsor federation, are: Lindsay Waters (Shawnee, KS) for USA Volleyball; Julie Broms (Springfield, IL) for US Diving; Jennifer DeBolt (Metamora, IL) for USA Gymnastics; Lucy Gilmore (Radford, VA) for USA Swimming; Kristina Milburn (Elkton, MD) for USA Volleyball; and Jennifer Williams (Newfield, NJ) for USA Weightlifting. The Games partnered with these sports federations, in initiating the youth athlete ambassador program, to promote youth involvement in sports.

The youth athlete ambassadors were chosen based on a written essay detailing how sports involvement has positively impacted the lives of children. The five ambassadors will each receive a $2000 educational grant, Goodwill Games merchandise and a trip-for-two to Brisbane, Australia to witness the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Goodwill Games, Inc. strongly believes that sports play a valuable role in the lives of children. Sports serve as a teaching tool and provide young boys and girls valuable lessons to aide in easing their confusing worlds. The youth athlete ambassador program was developed on this very premise.

"Interacting with kids through sports helps to instill motivation, leadership and teamwork," said Mike Plant, president of Goodwill Games Inc. "These characteristics prove fundamental in raising the self esteem of children and motivating them to achieve in school and in their community. As a successful sports corporation, we feel an obligation to encourage children to realize their full potential."

The Goodwill Games, Aug. 29-Sept. 9, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, will feature 14 sports: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, cycling (track), diving, figure skating, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, trampoline, triathlon, weightlifting and surf lifesaving. The Goodwill Games were founded by AOL Time Warner Vice Chairman R.E. Turner in 1986 to ensure that the world's best athletes have the opportunity to compete in world-class competition. Goodwill Games, Inc. is a division of Turner Sports, the sports programming and production business unit of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Plans are currently underway for the 2005 Winter Goodwill Games in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Back to US News