Philadelphia, PA - The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, recently certified as the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of goalball, is pleased to announce 16 individuals who will serve as goalball sports ambassadors. Throughout the year, the ambassadors will assist USABA in spreading awareness around goalball programming and other initiatives via digital content and in-person appearances.
Philadelphia's Andy Jenks Selected As Sports Ambassador for USA Goalball
Originally from Delaware, Philadelphia's Andy Jenks found his passion for goalball when he was in elementary school. The sport uses an indoor court, and blind athletes track the ball by the noise it makes. After he graduated from high school, Jenks went on to earn a degree in political science from West Chester University. As a result, he is now the Sports Ambassador for USA Goalball.
Jenks was born with a degenerative disease known as incomplete achromatopsia, and his condition makes it difficult for him to see color. His disease causes him to have decreased vision, light sensitivity, and partial color blindness. The United States Paralympic Committee has chosen Jenks to serve as a Sports Ambassador for USA Goalball.
Jenks' selection was a major coup for USA Goalball. In a recent study, he surveyed thirty-five visually impaired and blind people in the U.S. and selected sixteen to serve as Ambassadors. These ambassadors will help promote goalball through digital content and in-person appearances. Ultimately, his mission is to raise the sport's profile among Americans with disabilities.
Today's announcement comes on the heels of the blind soccer sports ambassador announcement in April. Blind soccer is the second Paralympic team sport for which USABA is certified as the national governing body.
The goalball ambassadors will also assist in raising critical funds to change the lives of other American athletes with visual impairments through sport and promote USABA programs supporting recreational athletes all the way up to elite-level Paralympians.
