HCHSA Newsletter | April 2022

NEWSLETTER

HCHSA NEWSLETTER #WeAreHoustonSports

APRIL22

wheelchair rugby, ncaa men’s final four, art of soccer and more!

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Imperial Red Company

@HC_HSA

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

HCHSA TRIES ITS HAND IN WHEELCHAIR RUGBY HCHSA vs. United States Wheelchair Rugby Association’s, Houston Texans

On Thursday, May 10th, members of the HCHSA team partnered with TIRR Memorial Hermann for the incredible opportunity of touring the facility at James Driver Park and challegened the Houston Texans Wheelchair Rugby team in a game of Wheelchair Rugby.

The Texans are coached

by Steve Kearley and are currently the fifth ranked team in the country.

This team of talented Houstonians shared their love of the game with the HCHSA staff, teaching them the rules and playing in a mixed scrimmage.

Along with learning the game from some of it’s best athletes, the staff also

heard many of the players’ stories, growing an even

deeper connection between Harris County Houston HCHSA and the Houston Sports Authority team was Texans Wheelchair Rugby very eye opening as well team. The Houston Sports as informative in shaping Authority team got our knowledge the opportunity around adaptive to tour James sports. TIRR Driver Park Memorial and all Hermann that it has Adapted become.

Sports The TIRR Texans team consists of The campus and 12 athletes ranging from 19 - 45 years of age. features an Recreation abundance offers of accessible both youth features for and adults people of all with physical ages, including disabilities an sports fields, playgrounds, outlet to continue playing fitness stations and so sports both competitively much more. Every aspect and recreationally of the park is designed through programs to accommodate all including wheelchair individuals, making it rugby and much more.” one of Houston’s most Graham added that an inclusive and accessible entrepreneur starting a parks. This trip for the startup is committing to

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NEWSLETTER WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

HCHSA NEWSLETTER APRIL22 3 2

Imperial Red Company NCAA WATCH PARTY

@mfinalfour

FINAL FOUR HOUSTON HOSTS SELECTION SUNDAY WATCH PARTY

On Sunday, March 13th, the Harris County – Houston Sports Authority and the 2023 Men’s Final Four Local Organizing Committee hosted an NCAA selection Sunday watch party at Holman Draft Hall.

This was the perfect event to kick off this amazing month of NCAA Men’s Basketball and promote the event that is coming to Houston next year. Texas Southern University attended the watch party and celebrated their automatic bid to the March Madness tournament. Not only is Texas Southern University playing in this 2022 tournament, but they are one of four Houston universities set to host the Final Four in 2023.

In anticipation of the 2023 Men’s Final Four coming to Houston,

the Local Organizing Committee has begun to engage the local Houston community. The Local Organizing Committee, along with other Final Four partners, value the importance of bringing together the Houston community to strengthen local relationships and networks. Being able to host the Final Four in a city such as Houston is a great way to use sports to impact the community and create a positive economic impact for the city.

For this year’s legacy piece, the NCAA is teaming up with the Harris County - Houston Sports 4

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Authority and the Houston Local Organizing Committee to host several youth and sustainability programs along with upgrading a local park. With all this in mind, the NCAA and Houston Local Organizing Committee are bringing the Read to the Final Four program to the Houston area to engage the youth in a city-wide reading initiative. This program is a great way to show how much hosting the Final Four can impact your city even when the tournament is over and the Final Four is long gone.

NEWSLETTER NCAA FAN JAM TRUCK

JOIN US FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE FAN JAM TRUCK Friday April 15. 12:00pm-4:00pm at Discovery Green, 1500 Mckinny St. Houston Texas, 77010 Truck activities include basketball goals, photo opportunities with the Men’s Final Four trophy, Pop-a-Shots, and more! To help us celebrate, a KHOU emcee will introduce the truck and help the Discovery Green stage come alive with band performances and mascot appearances from the tournament’s host institutions, plus interactive games and giveaways! Click HERE to learn more.

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Imperial Red Company ART OF SOCCER LUNCHEON

@Houston2026worldcup

WORLD CUP BID COMMITTEE PROVIDE STATUS UPDATE AT ART OF SOCCER LUNCHEON On Tuesday, March 22nd, the Houston 2026 World Cup Bid Committee hosted a luncheon at The Ion for the supporters of their Art of Soccer campaign.

Individuals from various leaders were in attendance, Houston corporations including HCHSA CEO, gathered for an afternoon Janis Burke, along with Vice of food and networking, Presidents, Chris Massey culminated by a press and Patti Smith. The Art conference from of Soccer campaign was bid committee created to financially support President, Chris the bid committee and Canetti. Bringing generate anticipation an event of this for the World Cup “We have been magnitude around the city. working for over a decade to ensure to Houston The campaign Houston has a seat requires allows Houston at the table come the the support businesses to hire next World Cup.” of the entire artists to paint overcommunity, and sized soccer balls to many of Houston’s be displayed in popular most innovative areas around the city. The 6

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viewing party presented every ball together for the very first time. Discussing how the campaign was initiated, Burke said, “Following the Covid-19 pandemic, we needed a creative way to raise funds while assisting the local community. Art of Soccer raised money for the bid committee while helping struggling artists find work. Displaying the artists’ impressive designs around Houston showed FIFA officials how unique the city is”. The event commemorated the contributions of all

NEWSLETTER ART OF SOCCER LUNCHEON

involved and Canetti is optimistic those efforts will pay off when the host cities are announced. He also mentioned that should Houston be selected as a host city; the Art of Soccer

campaign will be expanded due to its prior success.

His goal is to have hundreds of balls around the city, showing Houston’s flare and emulating its collective love of soccer.

Burke continued to say they, “Have been working for over a decade to ensure Houston has a seat at the table come the next World Cup. We missed out in 1994 and we have done everything we can to assure that does not happen again”. Houston has built stadiums, hosted international tournaments, and the citizens are passionate and eager to host the World Cup in 2026.

FIFA intends to announce 7

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their final selections in mid-May, and Houston is one of seventeen cities fighting for ten remaining spots. The bid committee has worked tirelessly to show Houston’s prowess as a major sports hub and there is a collective hope to

have cause for celebration in the coming weeks.

Imperial Red Company

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