NAB has expanded its support of diverse and inclusive communities through a partnership announced today with Special Olympics Australia for its flagship event, the 2018 Special Olympics Australia National Games.
The sponsorship includes NAB being announced as the presenting partner for the National Games which will see more than 1,000 athletes with an intellectual disability travel from around Australia to compete in Adelaide from 16 – 20 April across a range of 11 sporting disciplines.
NAB Chief Executive Officer Andrew Thorburn said the bank is committed to creating an inclusive society that enables people with disabilities to realise their full potential.
“We’re proud to be working with the Special Olympics to be at the forefront of this unique Olympic movement that celebrates social inclusion, inspiration and acceptance in all the lives it touches,” Mr Thorburn said.
“The partnership gives us a unique opportunity to evolve the conversation and attitudes towards acceptance and social inclusion in Australia, which is important to our customers, our employees and the communities in which we operate.
“We are looking forward to getting our employees involved in the event as we seek to increase the number of volunteer days our people contribute to communities each year by 50 per cent,” Mr Thorburn said.
The 2018 event will be the 11th National Games and will act as the selection event for Team Australia at the next Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2019 to be hosted in Abu Dhabi.
Special Olympics Australia CEO Corene Strauss said the National Games, held every four years, is more than just a competition, it a chance to challenge attitudes, educate and foster wider acceptance in the community about intellectual disability.
“Almost 600,000 Australians have an intellectual disability, representing one of the largest disability populations in the country. Every two hours, another child is diagnosed in Australia,” said Ms Strauss.
“To have one of Australia’s biggest brands, the National Australia Bank, partner with Special Olympics Australia to not only champion the achievements of our brave athletes but also back us in our drive to get Australians to embrace and support the wider cause of intellectual disability is extraordinary for our movement,” she added.
“We’re extremely thankful to NAB and look forward to having them alongside us on our journey to the National Games in April.”
Visit www.nationalgames2018.com.au to find out more about the Special Olympics National Games.
ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS AUSTRALIA
For more than 40 years, Special Olympics Australia has provided accessible sports training, coaching and competition opportunities so that people with an intellectual disability can reach their personal best, both in sport and in life.
The organisation currently supports more than 3,100 athletes and 5,200 scholars in 59 accredited programs and growing nationwide, catering for a range of ages and abilities at all levels of competition. There are five million athletes with intellectual disabilities involved in Special Olympics programs around the world in 172 countries.
Intellectual disability is a term used to describe a person with certain limitations in cognitive functioning and other skills, including communication and self-care. It is the most common developmental disability and affects an estimated 600,000 Australians.
Find out more about how NAB is backing communities.
