Skip to content

Tournament celebrates transformative power of sport

For Moise Kadio and Alou Coulibaly, sport is more than just fun and games – it’s nation changing.
Moise Kadio and Alou Coulibaly of Mali drop the official first ball at the Beckie Scott Right to Play golf tournament at Silvertip Thursday, June 23.
Moise Kadio and Alou Coulibaly of Mali drop the official first ball at the Beckie Scott Right to Play golf tournament at Silvertip Thursday, June 23.

For Moise Kadio and Alou Coulibaly, sport is more than just fun and games – it’s nation changing.

Coming from one of the poorest countries in the world, Mali, Kadio and Coulibaly have seen firsthand the transformative power of sport: improved gender equality, greater school attendance and improved self esteem amongst children. Kadio said the results are improving his homeland for the better.

“I joined Right to Play in 2007 and it’s really doing well,” Kadio said.

Plagued by malaria and HIV, the lessons taught through Right to Play have evolved to include health promotion, inclusion and equality.

“We teach them how to avoid malaria and HIV and train our coaches how to deliver these messages,” Kadio said.

In Mali alone, Right to Play helps nearly 40,000 children – half of which are girls – learn life skills through sports. They employ more than 600 Mali residents as trainers, and Kadio and Coulibaly were on hand for the Beckie Scott Right to Play Golf Tournament as ambassadors for the program at Silvertip Golf Course.

The event raised $125,000 for Right to Play, as 30 of the nation’s top Olympic athletes came together for the cause.

“It’s exciting to see the positive support for Right to Play,” said Scott. “The participants love the event and it also celebrates Olympic athletes.”

The event is so popular with the athletes, Scott has had to turn down many more Olympians who wish to participate. It’s a nice problem to have, she said, as it shows the event is in good shape.

“People want to be a part of this and it’s fantastic to see everyone come together in the name of charity,” she said.

Several local athletes were eager to join the event, and teams were thrilled to share the course with the likes of Thomas Grandi, Sara Renner, Brian and Robin McKeever, Megan Imrie and Mark Arendz. Other Canadian athletic luminati such as Kyle Shewfelt, Cassie Campbell, Emily Brydon and Kallie Humphries also took part.

Scott had the chance to see Right to Play work in 2006, when she travelled to Ethiopia with the program. The visit convinced her to continue her work and the golf tournament is now in its fourth year.

Gymnast Shewfelt has also traveled with Right to Play and was touched bythe experience.

“I went to Liberia to see Right to Play in action. This is making a huge difference in the world,” Shewfelt said.

He recounted a story where he met two albino Liberian children. In Liberia, such children are often shunned and considered ‘witches,’ however, Right to Play programs ensured they participate din activities like everyone else.

“These programs support inclusion and that’s what we’re here to support,” Shewfelt said.

For more information, visit www.righttoplay.com


Rocky Mountain Outlook

About the Author: Rocky Mountain Outlook

The Rocky Mountain Outlook is Bow Valley's No. 1 source for local news and events.
Read more



Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks