Anytime Fitness Announces Global Partnership With Special Olympics
Posted: April 2, 2019 in Chains
Anytime Fitness
WOODBURY, MN – Avowing their shared commitment to helping all people lead healthy, happy lives, Anytime Fitness is pleased to announce a global partnership with Special Olympics. Anytime Fitness will encourage the owners and staff members at nearly 5,000 gyms to voluntarily coach, train and support Special Olympic athletes worldwide.
“Anytime Fitness and Special Olympics share a common belief that exercise can be beneficial, in all sorts of ways, to virtually anyone,” said Chuck Runyon, CEO and co-founder of Anytime Fitness. “Regardless of fitness level, ability or location, Anytime Fitness and Special Olympics are inclusive organizations that open their doors to others, meeting people wherever they are along their fitness journey, helping them get to a healthier place – Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone.”
With over 6 million athletes participating in 100,000 competitions every year, there are opportunities nearly every day for Anytime Fitness gyms in 40 countries to support local Special Olympics athletes. The many ways Anytime Fitness gym owners and staff members will support Special Olympics include:
- Inviting Special Olympics athletes to train in Anytime Fitness gyms;
- Sponsoring and/or coaching local teams;
- Encouraging individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to participate together in “Unified” group training sessions at Anytime Fitness gyms;
- Organizing fundraisers for Special Olympic athletes or teams;
- Coordinating cheer squads for local athletes and teams;
- Leading athletes and their fans in warm-up exercises at Special Olympics events;
- Hosting hydration, flexing and stretching stations at Special Olympic events.
“We are thrilled to be embarking on a global partnership with Anytime Fitness,” said Special Olympics Chief Marketing & Development Officer Kelli Seely. “Anytime Fitness’ commitment to inclusion is truly inspiring. By partnering with their gyms in communities around the world we hope to not only provide opportunities to improve the health and fitness of Special Olympics athletes, but to also create ‘unified’ moments where athletes with and without disabilities can learn from and challenge one another to be their best.”
Currently, there are nearly 500 Anytime Fitness gyms open in Japan. For nearly three years, Anytime Fitness of Japan has been a proud sponsor of Special Olympics Nippon. Supporting Special Olympics athletes has been a source of great joy for the Japanese Anytime Fitness gyms and their members. Now, via the new global partnership, Anytime Fitness gyms worldwide will be supporting hundreds of thousands of additional athletes – promoting health and happiness for all.
