As part of their commitment to inspire and assist children to participate in sport, the Pho3nix Foundation has begun providing assistance to a running total of 29 Tokyo Olympic-bound athletes in its first intake to the Pho3nix Athlete Program.
21 athletes across 13 Olympic sports were identified in a pilot search conducted in Poland, the homeland of the Pho3nix Foundation, and are now joined by eight international athletes as the program continues to expand.
With less than 150 days to go until the Tokyo2021 opening ceremony, the Foundation is currently recruiting applicants for the second intake into the program, which aims to assist underfunded Olympic athletes from any nation in any individual Olympic sport to compete at their best on the world’s biggest stage, and inspire their communities.
While sending athletes to the Olympics is the pride of any nation, many Olympic athletes struggle for funding to allow them to compete on a level playing field.
While sending athletes to the Olympics is the pride of any nation, many Olympic athletes struggle for funding to allow them to compete on a level playing field. Too many juggle work commitments with training to pay their way, despite being among the best in their chosen sport. With the one-year delay to the Games, there are many for whom even getting to the Games is still in question.
The eight international athletes come from a diverse range of backgrounds and disciplines, with representatives from four continents.
Rower Joan Poh, BMX rider Alex Limberg, and track cyclist Orla Walsh are just a few of the many who have been able to breathe a sigh of relief with their admission into the Athlete Program. A sole trailblazer for Singaporean rowing, Poh mentors young rowers while balancing her training with a role as a full-time nurse dealing with Singapore’s response to COVID-19. Limberg is national BMX champion in South Africa, a country that does not have an existing track that replicates the size and speed of the Olympics. Walsh was a non-athlete smoker and party girl in her native Ireland but over the past five years has transformed herself physically and mentally to become part of the national track cycling team. While all very different, these and all the others are truly inspiring stories, illustrating to kids worldwide what it takes to achieve success at the highest level.
Polish businessman Sebastian Kulczyk established the Pho3nix Foundation to help children around the world engage in sport and give young sport champions a chance to develop professionally. He says, “My parents were always teaching me that we should share and help if we can, so definitely this was something that I was brought up with, that sharing is important.’
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The Phoenix Foundation is looking for international Olympic athletes to expand their program.
To apply, please contact will.mccloy@manaseg.com
