Hercules Trophy actively supports Special Olympics 2014! The Special Olympics 2014 team has requested Yves Vekemans, President and CEO Hercules Trophy International, to take up the role of CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) in the executive committee of Special Olympics 2014.
In his role of CMO, Vekemans will report directly to Dirk Verhofstadt, who was previously appointed to CEO of Special Olympics Summer Games 2014. Vekemans will now put together a team of enthusiastic professionals who believe in the Special Olympics dream, and who are committed to the Summer games of 2014. Communication, marketing and fundraising skills will be needed in Vekemans’ team.
“In September 2014 the Special Olympics Summer Games will come to Belgium for 9 days. Special Olympics specifically target athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organization is officially recognized by IOC. Antwerp, one of the 22 Olympic cities, will host the event for 2,000 athletes and their delegations from 57 countries. More than 4,000 volunteers will help to make the multi-sport event unique and unseen”, says Verhofstadt.
Yves remains Chairman and CEO of Hercules Trophy International. The existing Hercules Trophy management team is currently extended in order to support the fast growth in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, USA, UAE, Singapore and South Africa.
Special Olympics is not only about sports. “More than 30 Belgian cities will host the athletes. Next to the sport program, other scientific, educational and family programs will be set up. A lot of events will be organized before, during and after the Games. Special Olympics will certainly be one of the biggest sport events of the year; an experience for Belgians to be proud of”,Guido Kestens, Executive Chairman Special Olympics Summer Games 2014.
Aside from the existing sponsor agreement with SD Worx, Vekemans went looking for a second enthusiastic sponsor. He found a new partner, which was Start People, the number 2 in HR solutions in Belgium. Christophe Petit, General Manager at Start People, explains: “At Start People we honor the values passion – fun –authenticity – commitment. Our 500 co-workers, and more than 12,000 temporary employees help us to realize and carry out these values. They are our everyday heroes. But we are also socially responsible as an organization.Special Olympics 2014 is definitely a powerful project that perfectly fits our values and strategy.”
Read the entire press release in English, in Dutch or in French.