JOHN AMAECHI

Projects and Partners

Disabled Sports Events (DSE) & the English Federation of Disability Sports (EFDS)
John is the President of DSE and the vice-President of EFDS. Ever since attending the DSE youth games in 2004, John has been hooked on these organisations that support grass roots and paralympian athletes.

"John has been involved in our work since 2003, when he attended our Open Athletics Championships in Birmingham. At the time "Meech" was still playing in the States, but found time to support our work with disabled sports people.

Since then John has been an active supporter, attending many events to inspire the youngsters. John later became DSE's President and we were more than happy to be represented by someone people actually listened to! He has a great talent of relating to every person in the room and using every day stories, which draw the audience in.

It has been a privilege to have known John on a professional and personal level for so many years. I hope we get to work together on many more
occasions."
Sarah Marl
Disability Sports Events
Disability Sports Website

National Literacy Trust (NLT) & the Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) campaign
John has been an Ambassador for this organisation since 2002, attending events, hosting awards evenings for successful readers and authors and even reading some favourite books to groups of young people around the country.
National Literacy Trust Website

Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB)
This is another charity close to John’s heart. He runs the annual SOGB European basketball week events from his own Amaechi basketball Centre in Manchester, providing a wonderful experience for both the special Olympians and the centre’s own outstanding athletes.

"Basketball in Special Olympics Great Britain remained a demonstration sport for several years until we were fortunate enough to engage the Ambassadorial support of John. With John's drive, motivation, sincerity and commitment, basketball in SOGB is now a national sport. Team GB then reached medal winning status in the 2008 World Games. John does what John says he will do. His enthusiasm, loyalty, his team spirit and his ability to remove all barriers is a credit to his sport and this is what makes John one of our most respected, loved and valued Ambassadors. John, we couldn't do it without you! Thank you!"
Nadine Hughes
Special Olympics Great Britain
Special Olympics Great Britain Website

Projects and Partners

London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) Diversity Board
John is a member of the diversity board along with four other professionals and former athletes along with the CEO of the London 2012 games. This board is responsible for setting strategy for procurement, recruitment and standards for every employee, supplier and volunteer for the 2012 Olympic games effort.
London 2012 Website

The Speaker
John is a Judge on this BBC 2 hit series that follows the journey of a group of young people pared down from 1,300 to find “Britain's best young speaker.” The series airs weekly from April 7th 2009 and features John, Jo Brand and Jeremy Stockwell as Judges along with weekly mentors like Earl Spencer, Deborah Meaden (of Dragon’s Den) and Alastair Campbell who help hone the speaker’s skills.
BBC Speaker Website
You can also learn more about The Speaker by
‘clicking here’.

La Mission
Staring Benjamin Bratt (of Law & Order) and Erika Alexander, “La Mission” is an independent feature film set in the vibrant Mission district of San Francisco. John is a consulting producer on this film that was a recent hit at the 2009 Sundance film festival. You can see more information on this film at the following this link and footage from the films panel discussion can be found in the video section.

Shirts & Skins
This series by the MTV channel LOGO in the US follows a group of athletes trying to be true to themselves while building on the legacy of a once-great team. John came in to a chaotic team environment and helped to steer this once fractured team to success.
Shirts & Skins Website

Beijing Legacy Blog
With the dual purpose of BBC Analyst and Amnesty International Ambassador, John went to the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. The Beijing Legacy Blog chronicles the month long journey around Beijing and the games, navigating constant competition, dodging secret policemen and soaking in the amazing culture while drinking massive amounts of green tea.
Beijing Legacy Blog Website

Amnesty International
John became a sporting ambassador for Amnesty International prior to the 2008 Beijing games. He has since gone on to become a full ambassador, working with Amnesty on a wide spectrum of human rights issues across the globe.

“In early 2008, John Amaechi agreed to become Amnesty International’s Olympic Ambassador. It was a groundbreaking arrangement – the first time Amnesty had created such a role. It also saw Amnesty have a presence in China for the first time in years. John’s reports before the Games helped highlight a number of significant human rights concerns Amnesty has with the Chinese authorities. And his blogs and work from Beijing itself ensured that the human rights agenda was never far away from the spotlight. This successful arrangement helped improve Amnesty’s relationship with leading sports organisations in the UK and following the conclusion of the Games, John’s role with Amnesty has widened. Now an Amnesty ambassador, he is working closely with Amnesty on various issues including gay, lesbian and bisexual rights and is continuing to help ensure the world of sport follows a human rights ethos.”
Niall Couper
Press Officer, Amnesty International UK
Amnesty International Website

The Daily Voice
John is a regular contributor to this blog site that has become known as “black America’s daily news source”, some of his previous editorials can be found at:
The Daily Voice Editorial 1
The Daily Voice Editorial 2
The Daily Voice Editorial 3
The Daily Voice Editorial 4
The Daily Voice Editorial 5