GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY TO HOST CONFERENCE
We are excited to announce that on November 6-8, 2019, Georgetown University and the Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture will come together to host a global conference in support of Sport at the Service of Humanity.
As the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit University, Georgetown is a fitting location for this invite-only conference that will bring together leaders from athletics, education, faith communities and youth sports to discuss the power of sport to effect positive change in the world. The conference will feature speakers, panels and breakout groups focused on building a global movement that uses the power of faith and sports for the common good, while exploring the three Sport at the Service of Humanity pillars of Inspiration, Inclusion and Involvement.
“It is wonderful to have this opportunity to come together and reflect on the many ways that sport builds community, enriches our lives, and strengthens our connections with one another, stretching around the globe. We are deeply grateful to all our partners in this effort, and especially the Sport at the Service of Humanity Foundation, Cardinal Ravasi, and the Pontifical Council for Culture, for their leadership and support in making this very special gathering possible.”
— JOHN J. DEGIOIA, PRESIDENT, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
“All those engaged in sports must become models to create bridges over the valleys of ethnic division, of socio-cultural separation, of ideological opposition, and I can think of no better place than Georgetown to explore at this conference how the power of faith and sports can work together for the common good.”
— CARDINAL RAVASI, President Pontifical Council for Culture
INSPIRING VENUES, HONOURED GUESTS AND SPEAKERS
The 2019 SPORT AT THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY Conference will take place at exciting venues throughout the greater Washington, DC, area, including Capital One Arena, the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), and Georgetown University’s Main Campus. It will feature dynamic speakers and panels, a Georgetown men’s basketball home game, a tour of the newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and breakout groups focused on building a global movement to use the power of faith and sports for the common good.
Sport at the Service of Humanity is honoured to welcome to the conference CARDINAL GÉRALD CYPRIEN LACROIX ISPX, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, who will attend the conference on behalf of Cardinal Ravasi.
Other notable guests and speakers include:
• DC Attorney General, KARL RACINE
• Asst. Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs, M A R I E R O Y C E
• Former Prime Minister of New Zealand and ISPS Handa
representative, SIR JOHN KEY
• NBA legend, former New York Knicks and current Head Coach of
Georgetown’s Men’s Basketball team, PATRICK EWING
• AIMEE MULLINS, former American Paralympic athlete,
actress and fashion model
• BBC News Anchor and Emcee, DAVID EADES
In addition, the conference attendees will hear from an incredible line-up of panelists.
Panel 1: Reflecting on Sports and Engaging with Questions of Values
Moderator: PAUL ELIE, author and Senior Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs
• MICHAEL SERAZIO, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Boston College and author of The Power of Sports: Media and Spectacle in American Culture
• VICTOR CHA, Ph.D., Professor and Vice Dean for faculty and graduate affairs at Georgetown University and author of Beyond the Final Score: The Politics of Sport in Asia
• CHRISTINE BRENNAN, sports columnist for USA Today
• SALLY JENKINS, Washington Post columnist
Panel 2: Inspiring Change Through Major Sports” featuring National and Global Sport Leaders
Moderator: VAL ACKERMAN, Commissioner of the Big East Conference. Val has been an active supporter of Sport at the Service of Humanity since it first launched in 2016. She has been instrumental in making the Georgetown University conference a reality and we are extremely grateful for all of her efforts.
• DAVID GREVEMBERG, Chief Executive of theCommonwealth Games Federation
• PAUL TAGLIABUE, Former Commissioner of the National Football League
• CATHY ENGELBERT, Commissioner of the Women’s National Basketball Association
Powerful Words
During the dinner reception on day two of the conference, attendees will be treated to a live performance by Spoken Word artist Patrick de Belen, who will perform the Sport at the Service of Humanity piece: My Coach Taught Me, which he first performed at the NFLPA Youth Football Camp in Chicago and Houston this summer.
Click HERE to watch the video.
Uniting for Change
During the course of the three days at Georgetown University, global thought leaders and influencers will come together to discuss how the power of faith and sport can unite to create a world where we Live Like We Play. As always, these discussions will be guided by the six Sport at the Service of Humanity Principles – Compassion, Respect, Love, Enlightenment, Balance and Joy. We look forward to sharing the outcome of these discussions with you in our November newsletter.
