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KICK on Ice - Berlin, Germany

In recent years, a rise in violent behaviour and juvenile delinquency has been recorded in Berlin. Offences have included theft and damage to property and there has been a rise in the number of attacks on people. In an attempt to combat this, at the initiative of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Berliner Eisbären (Ice Bears) ice hockey club, under the patronage of Ein Herz für Kinder (A Heart for Children), the KICK on ice project has been set up.

The aim is to ensure that participants, supervised by qualified trainers, enjoy an attractive leisure activity at a time they would otherwise spend out on the streets. A sport has been deliberately chosen whose qualities of toughness and speed will appeal to the target group.

The KICK on ice project, which was inaugurated by Laureus World Sports Academy member and Olympic ice skating double gold medalist Katarina Witt on April 18, 2003, operates in the Hohenschönhausen ice rink every Saturday from 9pm until midnight, offering young people the chance to come off the streets at a particularly vulnerable time and take advantage of coaching courses in hockey, speed skating and figure skating. As well as regular ice sports activities, KICK provides space on the premises where advice is given to the young participants about sport, leisure and educational opportunities.

The facility's staff also offer individual support in solving existing or emerging problems, for instance at school, at work or with parents. With the support of social education staff at KICK locations, educational lectures for children and youths are regularly offered, tackling delinquency and drug abuse and offering advice on nutrition, finding work and dealing with money.

Katarina Witt, who joined Eisbären player Ricard Persson to give an impromptu coaching session to a group of youngsters, said: "This is an excellent project and I am delighted to do everything I can to support it. I hope many of the young people who come along to the ice rink can trade their frustration on the streets for fun on the ice."

Participation in the planned ice sports activities is offered to children and youths from eight locations in the Berlin districts of Lichtenberg, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Marzahn-Hellersdorf and Pankow. It is hoped there will be cooperation with schools in the Lichtenberg district in the future.