ESPN Films announced today that award-winning journalist, author and philanthropist Maria Shriver will executive produce a 30 for 30 Short film, “Brave in the Attempt” with ESPN Films on the life of her mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics. As the closing speaker of the 2014 espnW: Women + Sports Summit tomorrow, Shriver will discuss with ESPN SportsCenter anchor Kevin Negandhi the upcoming production of the film, ESPN’s collaboration with the 2015 Special Olympics World Games and Shriver’s own philosophy that women and men can make an impact in all areas of human endeavor if they see themselves as “Architects of Change.”
“These 30 for 30 films look at defining figures in sports and my mother was one of them,” said Maria Shriver. “I’m so excited to be partnering with ESPN to produce this film on my mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. I love ESPN’s 30 for 30 franchise because I think the films have tremendous impact. My mother was a competitor from a family of competitors. In her family, athleticism and winning proved your worth, so she used sports to change the world’s perceptions about people with intellectual disabilities (ID) – to show that they could be competitors and winners too. In creating the Special Olympics she proved that people with ID could be not just athletes, but valuable members of society – forever changing the landscape of sports. I’m so proud and excited to bring the story of her legacy to ESPN and the world.”
“The captivating story of Eunice Shriver and the Special Olympics is one that we’ve been looking to tell for quite some time and we’re honored to have Maria on board, not only for her highly decorated journalistic and storytelling talent, but also to help shape this film in the personal way that’s become synonymous with the 30 for 30 brand,” said Dan Silver, senior director of development, ESPN Films. “This short film also provides us an opportunity to contribute a unique and inspiring element to ESPN’s inaugural coverage of the Special Olympics next year.”
ESPN Films’ Emmy Award-winning 30 for 30 Shorts series first premiered September 26, 2012 on Grantland.com, and featured short films on topics including the “Arnold Palmer” beverage, the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card and a mixed Palestinian-Israeli youth soccer team. Additional information about the “Brave in the Attempt” short will be released at a later date.
The 24th Special Olympics World Games will take place over 10 days in Los Angeles beginning July 25, 2015. Every two years, Special Olympics athletes come together to compete at the Special Olympics World Games. Over 7,000 athletes from over 177 countries will be competing in 26 different sports at venues throughout Los Angeles, including USC and UCLA.
Enjoy “Brave in the Attempt” and other great shorts in the 30 for 30 Documentary library with a subscription to ESPN+.