Laureus: Breaking the Cycle of Violence

Laureus World Sports Academy member Daley Thompson is embarking on a 367-mile cycle ride from Manchester to London to highlight the solutions sport can provide to the growing problems of UK youth crime and in particular gang violence.

Daley will be joined at various stages of the ride - which begins at Manchester United’s football stadium Old Trafford on Wednesday, July 8 - by supporters including Sebastian Coe, Tessa Jowell, Tim Henman, Gary Player, Matthew Pinsent, Sean Fitzpatrick, Hugo Porta, Roger Black and Kris Akabusi.

A report has been specially commissioned by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, on the role which sport can play in fighting the evil of gang violence and gun and knife crime. The report – ‘Laureus - Breaking the Cycle of Violence’ – makes recommendations and calls on all politicians, professional sports clubs and community sports facilities to recognise and invest in sport as an effective mechanism for tackling the growing problem of youth crime and gang violence.

During the six days of the ride, which will route through Stoke-on-Trent, Coventry, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Newbury and Brent, Daley Thompson will visit community projects which use sport to keep young people off the streets and provide positive life lessons.

Daley will be providing regular updates of his progress on the Laureus blog, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.