KANSAS CITY, Mo. – He’s gone for gold and been the go-to in figure skating commentary, but now Olympian Scott Hamilton is trading in his ice skates for center stage.
“This technology right now needs a friend, a public friend that is going to stand up and talk about it,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton is a cancer survivor turned proton therapy advocate. In fact, he’s so passionate about the lifesaving cancer treatment that it’ll be what he talks about at his TEDxKC talk Saturday.
WATCH: See Hamilton and 10 other speakers live at 5:30 p.m. Sat., Aug. 28
“When I’m doing a TED talk on a very scientific discussion, it’s kind of like I better stay in my lane here,” Hamilton joked. “Don’t wander off the path, don’t spend any time in the weeds; just stay on the path and go from A to B.”
In its seventh year, Kansas City’s TEDx is the largest in the country. Mike Lundgren, the creator of TEDxKC, said that’s for good reason.
“There’s a bit of a Renaissance that’s been going on here for a couple of years with arts and technology,” said Lundgren. “It’s a point of pride for Kansas City to have this thing that’s all about ideas and innovation, technology, some of the greatest things that are happening in the world. One of the largest events that happens in the world happened right here in Kansas City.”
And while the topics are as varied as the speakers, Lundgren said nearly everyone who attends leaves with new ideas that spark conversations.
“It’s the world’s doers and thinkers all coming together to talk about the things they are working on,” said Lundgren. “That’s really what TED is all about. It makes the world a little bit better place.”
The TEDxKC event in Kansas City is completely sold out, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Watch it live at TEDxKC.org .