Right To Play, a global organization that uses sport and play programs to educate and empower children facing adversity, will host one of the largest gatherings of post-Olympic athletes on the calendar in 2014, the biennial Big Red Ball, on Tuesday, April 29th at Cipriani Wall Street in Manhattan. The 2014 Ball will commemorate the 20th anniversary of Johann Olav Koss’s triple world record-breaking gold medal wins at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Games, which was the visionary launch point to bring the power of sport and play to disadvantaged communities around the world. Koss’ Olympic success led to the founding of Right To Play in 2000.
The 2014 Big Red Ball will be hosted by TODAY Show and NBC correspondent Willie Geist, who will be joined by a legion of athletes and special guests all celebrating the children, Coaches and schools that Right To Play reaches worldwide. The Ball will also serve as a way to congratulate the network of Olympic and professional Athlete Ambassadors on all of their amazing achievements in sport.
Confirmed Athletes to attend as of April 22 (Athletes will do a red carpet walk starting at 6:00 pm):
2014 Sochi Olympic Athletes:
• Matt Antoine, Bronze Medalist, Skeleton
• Brittany Bowe, Bronze Medalist, Speedskating
• Emily Cook, Olympian, Aerialist
• Kaitlyn Farrington, Gold Medalist, Snowboarding
• Jazmine Fenlator, Olympian, Bobsled
• Nick Goepper, Bronze Medalist, Freestyle Skiing
• Devin Logan, Silver Medalist, Freestyle Skiing
• Patrick Meek, Olympian, Speedskating
• Elana Meyers, 2-Time Olympic Medalist, Bobsled
• Alana Nichols, Paralympic Skiing
• Molly Schaus, Silver Medalist, Hockey
• Anne Schleper, Silver Medalist, Hockey
• Alex & Maia Shibutani, Olympians, Ice Dancing
Additional Athletes Confirmed:
• Deirdre Murphy Bader, Olympian, Cycling (Ireland)
• Bonnie Blair, 5-Time Gold Medalist, Speedskating
• Joey Cheek, Gold Medalist, Speedskating
• Sasha DiGuilian, Rock Climbing
• Devon Harris, Olympian, Bobsled (Jamaica)
• Sarah Hughes, Gold Medalist, Figure Skating
• Dan Jansen, Gold Medalist, Speedskating
• Karen Palacios-Jansen, LPGA Veteran
• Nastia Liukin, 5-Time Olympic Medalist, Gymnastics
• Tim Morehouse, Silver Medalist, Fencing
• Summer Sanders, 2-Time Gold Medalist, Swimming
• Luke Sassano, 5-Year Veteran, MLS
• Chris Waddell, 12-Time Paralympic Medalist, Skiing
The Big Red Ball is Right To Play’s signature fundraising event that happens every Olympic year in New York City. The Ball is a seated dinner event and program highlighting the organization’s successes over the past year and convening Right To Play donors, partners and Athlete Ambassadors. All monies raised through sponsorship, ticket sales and a unique live auction go directly to the efforts of Right To Play.