Andre De Grasse launches holiday sprint festival to drive inclusivity in track
The inaugural Andre De Grasse Holiday Sprint Festival will take place Dec. 20 at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ont.
Nick Iwanyshyn
Canada’s fastest man is not just a champion on the track–he’s also a champion of empowering the nation’s youth. Last week, Andre De Grasse added to his growing list of community-focused endeavours, announcing the launch of the Andre De Grasse Holiday Sprint Festival, a new meet prioritizing inclusivity. The inaugural event is set for Dec. 20 at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ont., with 60m, 200m and 300m races for U16, U18, U20 and Special Olympics divisions.
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“The meet is something I’ve been thinking about for years, ever since Andre started his Holiday Basketball Tournament,” Speed Academy Athletics Club head coach and founder Tony Sharpe told Canadian Running. “I always questioned why Canada’s greatest sprinter was hosting a basketball tournament but no track events.”
The Abilities Centre and inclusive sport
The new festival aims to spotlight the Abilities Centre, a non-profit focused on inclusivity and barrier-free sport, fitness, arts and life skills for people of all ages and abilities. “This event [will] bring together Special Olympics athletes, para athletes and high school competitors on the same stage,” Sharpe added. “It’s about celebrating diversity in our sport and creating opportunities for everyone to shine.”
The meet will also generate support for the Andre De Grasse Future Champions Scholarship Program, launched in 2018 to support high school track athletes from underserved communities. “While we don’t expect significant fundraising at this inaugural event,” Sharpe said, “it’s an important first step toward building momentum for future initiatives.”
The meet will be organized by the Andre De Grasse Family Foundation, the Speed Academy and Puma.
De Grasse grew up in Markham, Ont., and in Grade 12, Sharpe recruited him to the Speed Academy. De Grasse went on to win two Olympic titles, a world championship title and a Diamond League title; with seven Olympic medals, he’s now tied for Canada’s most decorated Olympian.
Expanding outside of track
De Grasse’s commitment to driving the future of sport also continues off the track. De Grasse is a co-owner of AFC Toronto, one of six founding teams in Canada’s pro women’s soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL). (AFC stands for Always For: Commitment, Change, Courage and Celebration). The league completed its inaugural season in mid-November, with De Grasse in attendance to celebrate the growth of women’s sports.
