Athletes in Action to Host Legacy Breakfast at the London Olympics

Athletes in Action will host the inaugural More Than Gold Legacy Breakfast on Aug. 10, 2012, in London during the Olympic Games. The breakfast will promote and honor Olympic athletes, coaches and officials from around the world who model character and true sportsmanship.

The event will feature well-known Olympic athletes and coaches sharing inspiring stories about successes and failures in sports and in their lives. Special guests will include: Jerry Colangelo, chairman of USA Basketball; Madeline Manning Mims, Olympic gold medalist in track and field; and Gene Davis, Olympic bronze medalist in wrestling. Additional guests will be announced as the event approaches.

“The Legacy Breakfast is an innovative and pioneering event,” says event director Mark LoVellette of AIA. “We are excited to provide a venue celebrating true champions: men and women of character, faith, integrity and excellence on the field of competition.”

The cornerstone of the Legacy Breakfast will be the awards presentation. The Athletes in Action Lifetime Achievement Award will honor an individual in the sports world who serves as a positive role model to his or her family, teammates and community. Similarly, the Eric Liddell Award will recognize an athlete or coach for his or her legacy of faith and service.

“Good character is like a diamond in the rough. We hope that the Legacy Breakfast will place character on display in a way that is attractive and compelling, allowing the audience to see Jesus, the true source of it,” says AIA president Mark Householder.

Athletes in Action hosts a number of breakfast outreaches at key athletic events each year, including the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend and the Men’s Basketball Final Four. The Legacy Breakfast marks AIA’s first international event of this nature. In keeping with the style of previous events, the breakfast in London will provide a platform for leaders in sports to speak publicly about their faith and will include a gospel message.

Holding this event in London during the Olympics will create opportunities to reach out in an area where Athletes in Action is not yet present. “We are looking forward to engaging with and serving those in the London business and political communities at this event,” LoVellette says.

“Over the last 25 years we have run over 75 breakfast events at major sporting events here in the United States. But doing this on a global stage is a whole different challenge. The Legacy Breakfast represents a sizeable faith venture, but one worthy of pursuit,” says Householder.

The Legacy Breakfast is co-sponsored by Athletes in Action, More Than Gold and Agape UK. To learn more about the breakfast or to purchase tickets, contact Mark LoVellette at mark.lovellette@athletesinaction.org.

By Katie Neff, AIA Communications

Photo: Central Methodist Hall’s Great Hall, location for the Legacy Breakfast. by teresa young 5. April 2012 09:21

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