JFK nephew gets ITT Unesco chair
THE nephew of JFK and son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy
Shriver has been appointed as the chairholder of the UNESCO chair at
IT Tralee.
This week UNESCO and ITT announced that Dr Timothy Shriver – who is the chairman of Special Olympics International – will become chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Inclusive
Physical Eduction, Sport Fitness and Recreation at the Tralee College.
The UNESCO chair programme was set up in 1992 in a bid to help the international eduction and cultural body achieve their aims by advancing research, training and programme development by building university networks and encouraging inter-university cooperation.
UNESCO awarded the chair to IT Tralee in 2013 in recognition of work done and on the promise of further work to do in the area of inclusion of people with disabilities. It has a global remit.
Dr Shriver said he was honoured to take on the role in IT Tralee.
“Special Olympics has always had a great relationship with the Institute, and indeed UNESCO. This appointment gives us the opportunity to join our efforts to build a world that accepts and provides for diversity as a norm,” he said.
“This year is a very important one for UNESCO. In July they will convene government ministers from around the world, along with senior officials of sport, in Kazan, Russia to seek commitments for the establishment of a comprehensive vision of inclusive access for all in physical education, physical activity and sport. As chairholder, I fully support this agenda. Our chair in Tralee, together with Special Olympics International and all other partners of the chair, will be at the forefront of supporting inclusive access to health and wellbeing, communities, education, economy and society aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Agenda 2030,” he said.