Elite group of athlete/artists aims to double its members

FORT MYERS, Florida, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Art of the Olympians Organization (AOTO), an international-based group of elite Olympic athletes-turned-artists, has launched a global membership initiative to double its roster in the next six months. The renowned nonprofit group hopes to grow worldwide to expand its global citizenry programs through Olympian and Paralympian athletics, arts and culture teachings.   

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"It's a very ambitious goal," says AOTO Executive Director Roald Bradstock, an Olympic javelin thrower and artist who recently was interviewed on CNN about his career and his goals for the organization. "Our target is to at least double our current roster of Olympian and Paralympian artists. It took several years to bring together 29 Olympians. We want to get our roster to as close to 60 Olympians if we can. We believe we can reach this goal by getting the word out globally through the traditional media and social media channels." 

Bradstock, a two time British Olympian and former world record holder turned painter is known as "The Olympic Picasso." This past fall, he was appointed by parent organization, the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF), to lead AOTO's expansion effort.  

AOTO was founded in 2006 by Oerter, four-time consecutive Olympic discus champion. The group started with 14 Olympic athletes from seven different countries with 19 Olympic medals among them. Aside from their athletic prowess, they are also champions of the visual arts, excelling in a wide range of mediums including clay, acrylics, oils, watercolors, fabrics and paper. Since he's taken the reins, Bradstock hopes to broaden the organization beyond the visual arts to include Olympians and Paralympians who are accomplished musicians, singers, dancers, actors, poets, authors and much more. 

"Our goal is to promote the ideals of work ethic and mind, body and spirit through the arts," Bradstock said. "Art is more than creating a painting and hanging it on a wall. It's a way of thinking and living. It's about connecting, communicating and a way to express who we are. I need everyone out there to help me find these Olympian and Paralympian artists. Call me, text me, send me an email or send a smoke signal to get in touch. We want to create a movement here, and the only way to do that is to get more people involved."  

AOTO has moved away from its original Fort Myers museum and gallery office setting and now features itself and its programs via a virtual and mobile platform. Over the past 10 years, AOTO has had exhibitions at the United Nations and at three Olympic Games: the 2008 Beijing games, the 2010 Vancouver games and the 2012 London games. They've also had their artwork shown for a month on the giant screen in Times Square. The group was also the subject of an award-winning documentary, hosted by 1968 Olympic Figure Skating Champion Peggy Fleming, who is also one of AOTO's artists.   

Olympians and Paralympians interested in joining AOTO's world-wide program efforts are asked to contact the organization via email at info@artoftheolympians.org or contact them at (+1) 770-882-7799 (EST/U.S.A.) 

About Art of The Olympians (AOTO): Art of The Olympians Organization's programs and platform promote the Olympic ideals and unite the Olympic and Paralympic movement through inclusive educational, cultural and collaborative programs, exhibitions and projects. AOTO is a program run by the Al Oerter Foundation (AOF).    

Media contact:  
Roald Bradstock: r.bradstock@artoftheolympians.org  

SOURCE Art of the Olympians Organization (AOTO)