As part of the drive to make the newly chartered Rotary Sport truly inclusive and reflective of the objectives for which it was established, a new Ambassador initiative has been launched.
The aim is to get sports stars – past and present – stars who have, and are role models in their respective fields and disciplines to identify with the overall Rotary ideal and also the objectives of Rotary Sport. These sporting legends have agreed to be the face and the voice of Rotary Sport, leading the drive for getting the youth of the world back into sport, into doing selfless work through sport and enriching the society through sport.
As President of Rotary Sport, Dr Tunde Adelakun said, ‘we want to touch every sector of the community. And if we aim to to that successfully, it is important that we connect with people who can allow the wider society to be conscious of the fact that our objective and desire to help them cuts across all spheres and that even celebrities who do not have to, still care.
‘These are accomplished celebrities who have done well in their careers and who want to use their acquired status to inspire a bright future in our communities’.
Heading up the Ambassadors podium is Nigerian football international, and star player of English Premier League side, Fulham FC, Alex Iwobi.
As ‘Tunde said, ‘having worked with and followed the development of Alex as a young man who started his career in Arsenal and grown to become a very fine gentleman and a model of success and modesty in club and international circles in football, for me it was a no-brainer when we had to start picking ambassadors. Alex fitted in perfectly with what we are doing. And the great thing is – he shares our desire and our passion. One word to him about it and his answer was emphatically affirmative’.
Alex Iwobi is quoted as saying ‘I always like to do whatever I can to assist and support. And the Rotary Sport ideal is one that didn’t need to be sold to me much before I saw what it means. With the President’s involvement, it was virtually impossible for me to say no’.
The nation Rwanda is very well known for many reasons and there are quite a few sports stars from there. But we await their dominance in sport which is imminent. One of the few stars of Rwanda sports that has also been placed in the Ambassador position is former football international Jimmy Mulisa.
Of Jimmy, RiS President ‘Tunde had this to say ‘Jimmy is a stalwart in Rwanda sports folklore. He was part of what is so far the only golden age of Rwanda’s football when the national team braved all odds and qualified for the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Again he is someone I know very well and with our growing presence in that country, and in recognition of the level of enthusiasm with which Rotary Sport has been embraced in Rwanda, Jimmy was first on the list of those who wanted to identify with the cause’.
And Jimmy confirmed this sentiment stating that ‘it is a real honour and privilege to be Ambassador of this great Club and I am only too happy to contribute in my way to seeing positive growth in our sport and in the wider society’.