Ladies European Tour And ISPS HANDA Partner For Power Of Sport And Paralympic Golf Push
If you golf, imagine performing blind or with a disability because the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS HANDA) and the Ladies European Tour (LET) have already been doing so and will continue to empathize with this cause by partnering up again for the promotion of the tour, charity events and hopeful inclusion as a Paralympic sport. I love to write about adaptive sports for the Sports Techie community blog, even if technology is not the primary focus of the content. This thrilling news out of London is sure to inspire the blind and disabled in England and around the globe, as it does me. I hope sports tech products become an enabler for the future plans of these special role models.
About ISPA HANDA
ISPS is a ‘General Incorporated Association’ based in Tokyo. ISPS was founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in 2006 to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world. ISPS’s support for golf is founded in its belief in the “power of sport” and it has fostered partnerships with golf governing bodies worldwide to help develop the game at every level and promote blind and disabled golf. ISPS’s heritage in supporting blind and disabled golf and Dr Handa’s interest and philanthropic contribution in golf has formed the foundation of its wider mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.
The support ISPA HANDA gives to women’s golf is highlighted via their continuation as title sponsor of the Ladies European Masters at Buckinghamshire Golf Club and their new role as Official Charity. This arrangement covers two years and also furthers the business relationship with Dame Laura Davies as official ambassador.
“ISPS is delighted to enter into a strategic partnership with the Ladies European Tour,” said ISPS Chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa. “We’ve been working closely with the LET since 2012, working together to showcase the “power of sport.” We look forward to developing our efforts to promote blind and disabled golf and our primary aspiration for golf to become included in the Paralympics.”
ISPS HANDA stepped up as the title sponsor of three tournaments on the worldwide LET schedule in 2014. For 2015, the tour aims to expand via additional programs including the support of youth players, plus the implementation of charitable global ambassadors and other happenings to promote ISPS’s goals.
About LET
The leading golf tour for women across Europe and now the world, intends to leverage their network of partnerships in order to increase awareness with national governing bodies, tournament promoters, professional and amateur players, and smaller regional golf tours on behalf of ISPS HANDA, as their strategic partner.
LET CEO Ivan Khodabakhsh said: “The LET is extremely proud of our relationship with ISPS and couldn’t be more pleased to extend our partnership to help raise the global stature of both women’s and disability golf. ISPS has done so much to grow the game and we plan to build on these achievements and take the relationship to the next level.”
The Ladies European Tour is a company limited by guarantee, not having a share capital, and its objectives are to promote world-wide interest in the game of golf, to maintain high standards in the promotion, development and conduct of ladies’ professional golf activities, to provide opportunities in tournament play and golf promotion for women golf professionals, to co-operate with organizations engaged in golf promotion whose objectives are compatible with those of the Ladies European Tour and to protect and further the mutual interest of the Tour and its Members.
Formed as the WPGA in 1978, the first series of golf tournaments took place in Great Britain in 1979. Now in its 36th year, in 2014 the Ladies European Tour features 24 tournaments in 18 different countries globally. With a strong base in Europe, the LET has in recent years expanded into new territories such as Dubai, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey and China. In 2014, the international schedule began in New Zealand and concludes in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Tour’s 300+ Members represent 40 different nationalities. In 2010, the LET launched the LET Access Series, the official feeder tour to the Ladies European Tour, formed to give players not part of a major tour an opportunity to compete and progress on to the Ladies European Tour. In January 2013, Ivan Peter Khodabakhsh became Chief Executive Officer of the Ladies European Tour, whose headquarters are located at Buckinghamshire Golf Club in Denham, near London, England.
Sports Techie, Disabilities are part of life as those with them will tell you so sharing this story about the pioneering partnership between the LET and ISPS HANDA is my pleasure, especially in light that our toddler son has been diagnosed with possible autism spectrum red flags. Knowing how much he already loves to throw any ball and even kick a soccer ball at 18 months, makes me think about all the boys and girls around the US and world who have disabilities or blindness challenges to overcome in order to live a normal life, while ideally doing recreational activities and playing sports, like my boy is doing.
I am thankful for charities and organizations who prioritize sport for all adaptive sports participants. Sports Techie has been a proud supporter of this notion since day one as many of you may know. My new personal goal is to help golf for blind and disabled athletes become part of the Paralympics and Sports Techie plans to help make it so for all.
Wouldn’t that be cool, I believe so as does ISPS HANDA and the LET.
See y’all later in Seattle and here in Atlanta.
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