Martin Kaymer showed his support for ‘Olympic Day’ by officially announcing his co-operation with Deutsche Sporthilfe, an organisation which helps raise money for Olympic funded sports in Germany.
The two-time Major Champion is hoping his assocation will help encourage an increased participation in all sports, with a particular emphasis on golf, which returns to the Olympics in Rio in 2016. Kaymer will be hoping to represent his country in Brazil next year, and he used Olympic Day – which celebrates the birth of the modern Olympic Games on this day in 1894 - to underline the effect the global sporting showcase can have.
He said: “With this cooperation and also with my own Martin Kaymer Helianthus Foundation, I want to give something back and help other talents and athletes who didn't have the opportunities I had to fulfill their hopes and dreams.
“Sport connects people and teaches us important values about life. My life was positively influenced by the sport I loved and it made me become the person I am today. I want to express my enthusiasm for the Olympic Games through my co-operation with “Deutsche Sporthilfe”. Like many other athletes, I hope I will be part of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and it would be my dream come true to win Olympic gold. To participate on the Olympic Games opening ceremony and taking part on the life in the Olympic village is a lifelong dream of mine.”
Dr. Michael Ilgner, Chairman of the Executive Board “Deutsche Sporthilfe”, said: “We are really pleased to see a world star like Martin Kaymer assuming responsibility for athletes, who invest a lot of time and energy, but don’t have the financial opportunities and media attention like other sport stars. The aim of the co-operation is to generate additional funds for the funded Olympic sports and also to strengthen the notion of performance in the new Olympic sport golf in Germany.”
Kaymer added: “Golf does still not get the credit it deserves as a sport. Hardly anyone knows about the intensity, time effort as well as the financial burdens needed even from young players. On this path, golf is a niche sport in Germany. However our sport does not need to shy away from comparisons to other Olympic sports, because of its high athletic and mental challenges.”
