Inspired by the dream of a world accessible and inclusive for all, Rick Hansen set out on his legendary Man In Motion World Tour, on March 21, 1985, raising $26 million for SCI research. More importantly was the collective shift in consciousness in the belief of the potential of people with disabilities when barriers are removed. Twenty-five years later, that dream continues. Through the Rick Hansen Foundation, Rick has been instrumental in building programs and in supporting cutting-edge research that helps others realize their potential. In this keynote address Rick Hansen talks about how far we have come, the power of sport as a vehicle for social change and what the future holds. He is joined in a panel discussion with Dr. Bruce McManus and Patrick Jarvis.
Rick Hansen sustained a spinal cord injury when he was 15 that paralyzed him from the waist down. His Man in Motion Tour became a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of teamwork. Today Rick is President and CEO of the Rick Hansen Foundation. Through his leadership, the Foundation has generated more than $200 million for spinal cord injury related programs and initiatives.
Dr. Bruce McManus is Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, at the University of British Columbia. Since 2006, he has served as Director of the James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research located at St. Paul’s Hospital and as the Scientific Director of the Heart Centre at St. Paul’s Hospital – Providence Health Care. In September 2007, Dr. McManus was appointed as the Director of the recently launched Providence Heart + Lung Institute at St. Paul’s Hospital.
Patrick Jarvis is a sport leader, consultant, athlete and a Paralympian in 1992. Former president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee,he currently is in his second term with the International Paralympic Committee and serves on boards of WinSport, 2010 Legacies Now, University of Guelph and VANOC; as well as the IOC London 2012 Coordination Commission.
Sport, Legacy and Sustainability: Is it Worth It?
Assessing the legacy of the Olympic Games is often a contentious issue. Spiraling costs and the perceived difference between what is promised and what is delivered has left a shifting perception of the legacies of the Olympic Movement. The father of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, believed in the transformative power of sport and culture as a means of working together for social betterment. But the intervening years have produced mixed results where sport for its own sake has outdistanced these ideals. Bruce Kidd argues for the continuing relevance of the Olympics and explores how recent Games, including Vancouver 2010, have contributed to making the world a better place. Dr. Kidd’s talk is followed by a panel discussion to include Derek Wyatt.
Dr. Bruce Kidd is a Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Toronto. He has participated in the Olympic Games as an athlete, journalist, contributor to the arts and culture programs, and social scientist). Dr. Kidd chaired the Olympic Academy of Canada between 1983 and 1993 and served on Toronto's bid committees for the Olympic Games of 1996 and 2008. Throughout his lengthy involvement, he has constantly sought to educate athletes, decision makers and members of the public about the broad humanitarian ideals of the Olympic Movement and the aspirations for education through sports.
Derek Wyatt is an elected Member of Parliament in the U.K. House of Commons and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Group and author of the London Committee Report on Sport and Legacy.
