In addition to kicking off the 2009 Canadian Football League season on Wednesday at McMahon Stadium, the Calgary Stampeders will be paying tribute to a very special cause.
The Stampeders are very pleased to join a partnership with Right To Play, an international 
humanitarian organization that uses sport and play programs to improve health, develop life skills and foster peace for children and communities in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world.
Kicker Sandro DeAngelis will serve as the team’s ambassador for Right To Play and the organization will be recognized as the charity of the game during halftime of the season-opener against the Montreal Alouettes.
“Sport has a played a huge role in my life and taught me so many life lessons,” said DeAngelis. “Right To Play is a great organization because it uses basic concepts of sport and play to teach these kids extremely valuable lessons about health, safety and general life skills. Without Right To Play, kids in these less-developed countries wouldn’t have an opportunity to learn these things.”
Three-time Olympian Beckie Scott joined Right To Play as an Athlete Ambassador in January 2003 and is now a special advisor with the organization.
“Right To Play is absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the Calgary Stampeders,” said Scott, a
cross-country skier who won a gold medal in the 5-km pursuit race at the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002 and a silver medal with teammate Sara Renner in the team sprint event at Torino in 2006. “This will be the beginning of a tremendous relationship as we work together to create a safer and healthier world through the power of sport and play.”
As part of the partnership, DeAngelis and the Stamps will try to raise awareness about Right To Play and the community-minded kicker will chip in at Right To Play events.
In addition to recognizing Right To Play, and fitting in very nicely with the Canada Day theme at McMahon, the Stamps will pay tribute to Scott and 10 other past and future Olympians who have dedicated themselves to the Right To Play cause — Lindsay Alcock, Mike Brown, Emily Brydon, Clara Hughes, Mellisa Hollingsworth, Kaillie Humphries, Michelle Kelly, Catriona LeMay Doan, Jon Montgomery and Helen Upperton.