ESPN Announces Athlete Ambassadors for its Youth Sports Initiative Take Back Sports
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ESPN Announces Athlete Ambassadors for its Youth Sports Initiative Take Back Sports
ESPN announced a growing list of athlete ambassadors for its youth sports initiative Take Back Sports. A series of vignettes featuring the athlete ambassadors will air across ESPN’s platforms beginning on Monday, Aug. 4. The ambassadors talk about critical issues in youth sports including the importance of community rec leagues, quality coaching, multisport play and having fun. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, ESPN is helping parents, coaches and caring adults take back sports and make it fun again. Together with its league, business and community partners, Take Back sports is working to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play sports.“All of these incredible athletes have one thing in common: they care about the future of youth sports and want to help the system become more accessible and fun,” says Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship.
Natasha Cloud, New York Liberty
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers
Diana Flores, MEX National Flag Football
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
Max Holloway, UFC fighter
Jordan Larson, LOVB Omaha Volleyball
Sydney Leroux, Angel City FC
Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Eli Manning, 2x Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl MVP
Peyton Manning, NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback, 5x NFL MVP
Lexi Rodriguez, LOVB Omaha Volleyball
Ben Shelton, professional tennis player
Jordan Spieth, professional golfer
Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres
Frances Tiafoe, professional tennis player
A’ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces
“Ensuring kids have access to quality sports that helps them gain lifelong skills is one of my top priorities at the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation,” said Stephen Curry. “I’m excited to team up with ESPN on Take Back Sports because we’re united in the mission to help kids thrive through the transformative power of sports.”
A series of vignettes featuring the athlete ambassadors will air across ESPN’s platforms beginning on Monday, Aug. 4. The ambassadors talk about critical issues in youth sports including the importance of community rec leagues, quality coaching, multisport play and having fun.
“Play changed my life. Every kid deserves the chance to play, learn, grow, have fun and make friends,” said Luka Dončić. “The Luka Dončić Foundation and ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiative are focused on making youth sports more accessible and less stressful for everyone. Together, we can bring the joy back to the game.”
The vignettes also are featured on TakeBackSports.org, a premier online destination managed by Positive Coaching Alliance for youth sports parents, caregivers and coaches. The site includes tips, resources and actionable strategies on how to improve the youth sports experience for their child and others.
“All of these incredible athletes have one thing in common: they care about the future of youth sports and want to help the system become more accessible and fun,” says Kevin Martinez, vice president of ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “We’re so proud to be teaming up with them to drive messaging that encourages more kids to play and keep playing.”
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About Take Back Sports
Take Back Sports is a youth sports initiative led by ESPN and powered by Disney, designed to get and keep kids playing sports. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, ESPN is helping parents, coaches and caring adults take back sports and make it fun again. Together with its league, business and community partners, Take Back Sports is working to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play sports.
Press Contacts:
Garrett Cowan | garrett.cowan@espn.com
Jay Jay Nesheim | jayjay.nesheim@espn.com