The ISPS Handa Wales Open this week provides a global platform for the honourable philosophies of the title sponsor and its Chairman Dr Haruhisa Handa.
ISPS, the International Sports Promotion Society, was founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Handa in 2006 to support charitable course throughout the sporting world. Together, ISPS and Handa have fostered partnerships with a number of golfing governing bodies worldwide, most recently in its sponsorship deals for this week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open at Celtic Manor on The European Tour, and in next week’s ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship on the European Senior Tour at De Vere Slaley Hall.
As well as the now strong relationship with The European Tour, ISPS and Dr Handa have supported golf events across the world including on the Asian Tour, Ladies European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Australian PGA, plus many more.
ISPS will sponsor eight events over the course of 2012, starting with this week’s popular tournament at The Celtic Manor Resort in south Wales, using them as a platform to raise the profile of blind and disabled golf around the world, and a wider mission for golf to become a Paralympic sport.
Dr Handa set up the Japanese Blind Golf Association in 1988 and was the driving force behind the formation of the International Blind Golf Association (IBGA) in 1998.
“I think golf should be a Paralympic game,” said Dr Handa. “Golf is, I think, the most attractive, beautiful and significant sport for human beings. From young, old, ladies, gentlemen and even disabled people can play as ordinary people.
“I love golf. Handicapped people can still be good players, and that is golf; how nice and wonderful a sport it is. This is my philosophy, please join.”
Dr Handa has more than 25 years involvement in golf around the world at varying levels of the game. He is International Ambassador to the Asian Tour and the Ladies European Tour. He is also Patron of Golf Australia alongside Greg Norman and Honorary Chairman of the Legends Tour. ISPS is also a Major Partner of Faldo Series Asia, Nick Faldo’s golf development programme.
The three-year sponsorship deal between Celtic Manor and the ISPS Handa Wales Open was announced in November last year.
For more information about ISPS and Dr Handa’s widespread initiatives, go tohttp://www.ispsgolf.com/
