Conor Cummins has been appointed as an Ambassador for the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association. The TT star, known to fans as ‘Conrod’ and ‘The Ramsey Rocket’, is the third Ambassador to be appointed to represent the Association and help to promote its vital role as a registered charity responsible for organising and raising funds for Team Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games.
Conor was named Ambassador of the Year at the 2012 Isle of Man Bank Sports Awards and was chosen for the role of Team Isle of Man Ambassador due to his status as one of the Island’s most respected and popular sportsmen. The fastest Manxman ever to lap the TT Mountain Course is a popular figure with motorbike racing fans, and his courageous comeback from a serious crash in the 2010 Senior TT has earned him respect and admiration from the wider sporting community. Commenting on Conor’s appointment, Juliet Holt, President of the Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association, said:
“Although motorsports are not part of the Commonwealth Games, the IoM CGA committee decided to include a representative Ambassador from motorsport as it is an essential part of the Island’s sporting and cultural heritage, and Team Isle of Man is representing the whole Island at the Commonwealth Games. Conor is a wonderful ambassador for his sport and for the Island so we’re delighted that he has accepted the role.”
Team Isle of Man Ambassadors have been appointed to help raise the profile of Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association and its fundraising events in the build up to the next Commonwealth Games which will be in Glasgow in 2014. Conor is racing for the Milwaukee Yamaha team this year and his schedule includes the North West 200, Isle of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix and the Southern 100 and possibly the Macau Grand Prix at the end of the season. He said:
“It’s a great honour to be invited to become a Team Isle of Man Ambassador and I’m delighted to accept the invitation. The Isle of Man is a proud sporting nation and for many of our sports people the Commonwealth Games represent the highest level of competition at which they can represent the Island. It’s great that the IoM CGA committee have recognised the special place that motorsport occupies here, even though it’s not part of the Games. There are a lot of people involved in motorsport who take a keen interest in the progress of our competitors in Commonwealth Games events, and vice versa, so it’s good that the Ambassadors have been chosen to reflect the Isle of Man’s sporting community as a whole.”
Conor, who is a keen cyclist and has completed the Isle of Man End To End mountain bike race several times, is the third leading sports figure to be appointed as a Team Isle of Man Ambassador. The first was Neil MacGregor who for the last 36 years has been a PE teacher and also active in the Island’s sporting community as a coach, competitor and administrator. His appointment was then followed by that of cyclist Marie Morgan - formerly Marie Purvis - who was the first Briton to win a stage of the women’s Tour de France. She also represented the Isle of Man at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1990 and was fourth in the road race at the 1994 Games in Canada.
The Isle of Man Commonwealth Games Association is the organisation responsible for the publicity, fundraising, travel and support for Team Isle of Man’s participation at the Commonwealth Games. It is a registered charity and relies upon fundraising events and donations to fund Team Isle of Man’s participation. Fundraising initiatives are being planned in the countdown to Glasgow 2014 and donations to support Team Isle of Man can also be made at www.cga.im.
Photo - Conor Cummins who has been appointed as a Team Isle of Man Ambassador.
