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While in Denver, Colorado (USA), for the Pikes Peak Honda Indy 225 Race, IndyCar driver Vitor Meira celebrated his new role as Special Olympics Ambassador during an athletic and fun-filled day with local athletes.
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"It is very exciting to be the first racing driver to work as an ambassador for Special Olympics and I look forward to assisting the international organization in spreading its message," said IndyCar driver Vitor Meira, who was named a Special Olympics Ambassador in Denver, Colorado, on 18 August. |
Meira's ambassadorship was announced on 18 August at an event with his racing sponsor, Johns Manville. Special Olympics Colorado athlete and Global Messenger (Class of 2002-2004) Erin Holloway and Special Olympics North America Managing Director Jim Schmutz were on hand to welcome Meira to Special Olympics.
As an ambassador for Special Olympics, Meira will help further the message of the movement and aid in the enhancement of the level of inclusion in society of those with intellectual disabilities. Meira will combine his passion for fitness and sports with his successful driving career to foster a level of acceptance and support for Special Olympics athletes that he hopes will reach unprecedented levels. His advocacy work for Special Olympics also will help open doors in his home country of Brazil, a nation with enormous growth potential for Special Olympics. In addition, Meira will serve as a spokesperson for the upcoming 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games, which will be held in Ames, Iowa, in July of next year.
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Special Olympics North America Managing Director Jim Schmutz (at podium) and Special Olympics Colorado athlete Erin Holloway (white shirt) welcomed Vitor Meira to Special Olympics and presented him with an official Special Olympics Ambassador jacket. |
As a Special Olympics ambassador, Meira joins fellow supporters of the global movement such as California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger; National Basketball Association star Yao Ming; Olympians Bart Conner, Nadia Comaneci and Scott Hamilton; and musical performers Bono, Vanessa Williams, Jo Dee Messina and Jon Bon Jovi. In this role, Meira will work directly with Special Olympics athletes and help lead Special Olympics toward achieving its vision of changing attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities.
"It is a great honor to be an ambassador for the Special Olympics," said Meira, a triathlete when he isn't racing his Indy car. "I have always admired the Special Olympics program and its thousands of athletes for their determination and enthusiasm. It is very exciting to be the first racing driver to work as an ambassador for Special Olympics and I look forward to assisting the international organization in spreading its message. Helping people in Special Olympics is something I always wanted to do and this new role gives me a tremendous feeling of satisfaction," Meira concluded.
"As Special Olympics grows throughout the world, we rely on prominent and successful figures to help us provide society with models of acceptance as we all celebrate our athletes," said Jim Schmutz, Special Olympics North America Managing Director. "Vitor Meira is setting an example for all of us, showing how we can do just a little bit more so that people with intellectual disabilities not only have the chance to be athletes, but also are included in their communities."
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Meira, who is an accomplished triathlete, cycled through the streets of Denver with Special Olympics Colorado athletes. |
Meira spent the day of the announcement with Special Olympics Colorado athletes, having fun and sharing in numerous activities. The event took place at Johns Manville's headquarters in downtown Denver. Johns Manville, Meira's racing sponsor, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-quality building insulation, commercial roofing, roof insulation and specialty products for commercial, industrial and residential applications. Meira and Johns Manville provided a race car simulator at the event so the Special Olympics athletes could try their hand at driving a race car. In addition, Meira, a triathlete, cycled through the streets of Denver with some of the athletes so they could share in a sport they all love.
Meira, the personable 28-year-old Brazilian racer, is one of the top young stars of the very competitive international IRL IndyCar® Series. Driving for team owners Bobby Rahal, the three-time IndyCar driving champion, and TV icon David Letterman, Meira finished a close second in this year's Indy 500 at the wheel of the No. 17 Menards/Johns Manville Honda Panoz. Meira was the surprise of the 2004 IRL season with several impressive performances, including two seconds at Richmond and Kansas. Meira's runs garnered him the inaugural Tony Renna Memorial "Rising Star" Award, placing eighth in the final standings. Last year, Meira also won the Argent Mortgage "Fast Lap Award" with six fast race laps including a 218.401-mph lap at the Indianapolis 500. |
