Special Olympics International and the Cleveland Cavaliers have announced that Tristan Thompson, a player for the Cavaliers, has been designated the newest Global Ambassador for Special Olympics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thompson, whose brother Amari was born with a disability, expressed her excitement and honor at the opportunity to partner with Special Olympics. This is a fantastic chance for me to not only lend my support to a fantastic cause, but also to utilize my celebrity status to advocate for intellectually disabled athletes. My mission as a Global Ambassador is to combat prejudice and promote acceptance of individuals with disabilities by encouraging others to do the same.

Until Thompson, who the Cavaliers picked fourth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, no player born in Canada had ever been drafted higher than him. Thompson was an integral part of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and 2016 NBA championship, during his first nine seasons in the league (2011–2020). Among LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Brad Daugherty, he is one of just four players in franchise history to amass at least 5,000 points and 5,000 rebounds. He made his return to Cleveland for the 2023–2024 season. Furthermore, with 306 оffensive rebounds in the 2012–2013 season, Thompson owns the franchise record.

Thompson will use his international profile and life experiences to advocate for greater sporting participation as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. Along with assisting Special Olympics France, Special Olympics Brazil, Special Olympics Canada, and Special Olympics Ohio, he will collaborate with local and global entities through activations set up by Special Olympics around the world.

The appointment of Tristan Thompson as the latest Global Ambassador is a great honor for Special Olympics, according to Special Olympics International CEO Mary Davis. Beyond the playing field, Special Olympics creates a more inclusive world via sports. A more inclusive world, free from exclusion and where everyone is valued and appreciated, is something that Tristan is deeply committed to. We are excited to collaborate with Tristan and share his dedication to improving the lives of those with intellectual impairments by increasing global inclusion.

Thompson becomes the latest A-lister to join the ranks of Special Olympics Global Ambassadors. Other notable names include Ricky Rubio, Dikembe Mutombo, Sam Perkins, and Yao Ming, in addition to present and former NBA and WNBA players Andre Drummond of the Chicago Bulls, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Elena Delle Donne of the Washingtоn Mystics. To promote the NBA Paris Game 2024 between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson will begin his ambassadorship with a week of inclusion-focused events in partnership with Special Olympics France.

“Special Olympics helps us deliver an inclusive experience where athletes of any background or ability can enjoy the thrill and excitement of competing in sports while building life skills,” said Nic Barlage, CEO of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rock Entertainment Group, and Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. We are incredibly excited to begin a year-long cooperation with our first inclusion program in Paris and to join Tristan and Special Olympics in their powerful objective. We are excited to keep partnering with Special Olympics Ohio on community projects to back their important work.

In a basketball clinic at Palais des Sports Marcel-Cerdan this afternoon, Thompson and the Cavaliers will be joined by forty Special Olympics France competitors from IME Les Glycines, a specialist school for students with intellectual disabilities. There will be a pledge-taking ceremony with 31 children from the nearby Ecole Élémentaire Du Haut Des Guerines to commit to the #StrongerTogether project after the clinic for these Special Olympics competitors. Students from nearby schools will join Special Olympics Unified Sports® programs alongside Special Olympics France participants as part of the #StrongerTogether initiative. Individuals with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete side by side in Special Olympics Unified Sports® events.