BEYOND SPORT REACHES MORE THAN 30 MILLION TO SUPREMELY INSPIRE

By WBCnews

In friendship partnership, ambition and hope, along with founding supporters MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL, NHL, WBC and WNBA, Beyond Sport is extending  its already  long, powerful and humanitarian reach!

30 million people are benefitting from its diversity & inclusion learnings and commitments. This was announced in New York at the annual Beyond Sport United conference.

The event, explores, imparts, impacts  and educates  how sport can be used as an invaluable teaching tool, to tackle key issues involving Diversity & Inclusion.  More than 500 delegates attended this memorable Event, at the Barclay’s Center, proudly featuring some of the most influential and famous pioneering, spearheading quality people, from the worlds of sports, business, development and politics.

Each keynote speaker pledged their own support with social media posts throughout the day, culminating in over 500 commitments. And then…it was highlighted, spotlighted, amplified and gloriously extended using #SameTeam, to reach more than 30 million people!

Morning highlights included WWE’s Stephanie McMahon, who gave a key note presentation,  concerning  the organization’s community engagement and heartfelt commitment.

Brian Selander of Whistle Sports said: “Mauricio Sulaiman, head of the World Boxing Council shared with us the tremendous example of his Father Don Jose helping to fight  and defeat apartheid,  transforming it into a chance and an opportunity to tackle gender equality, with multi-time former Olympians. We are now friends for life.”

“Sport is a fantastic platform to eradicate  ignorance, empower  and express commonality,” commented Beyond Sport Founder Nick Keller, who challenged attending leaders  to be: “Incredibly  present and participative in order to make a statement about the power of these gatherings, and enact positive change throughout the world.”

Jill Diamond, Chair of WBC Cares said that: “We, as a diverse, coordinated and global organization, already embrace inclusion, and that boxing is la handsome handshake between strangers who embrace after the fight as friends.”

In attendance were great and caring WBC Champions: Alicia Ashley, Ronica Jeffrey, Alicia Napoleon and Melissa StVil, plus hosts of friends who came to tangibly support and encourage other leagues, in order  to remember and underline that talent NOT gender should and must be the basis for an athletic value as well as real lasting worth.

Jill also explained: “Since Jose Sulaiman historically and as a visionary pioneer, sanctioned women’s boxing for the WBC in 2005,  we have risen to this challenge, earned respect and admiration, through courage and achievement, magnificently proving our worth.”

Concluding, there was a rallying call to action, from human rights activist and champion for racial equality. Richard Lapchick led D&I leaders from the five major US leagues in an exclusive panel. The reflected, pondered, debated and recommended  just how they can best use their standing, energy, initiative and innovation to tackle key challenges.

Enthusing and inspiring the leaders, Lapchick crystallized the issue, by stressing  that: “Sport can help us lead a transformation of culture within organizations, and not just a change of diversity numbers.”

In addition to the support from the major US leagues, the event was strongly backed by official sponsors and partners including: Barclays, Barclay’s Center, Equinox, The Gaurdian, Harvard Group International, Boks Kids, Hotel on Rivington, JetBlue, WBC Cares, Whistle Sports and WWE.