Welcome to Laureus

LONDON, July 2, 2010 - Laureus World Sports Academy member and former Australia cricket captain Steve Waugh held an evening of sporting entertainment which raised over £1million for young people at the home of cricket, Lord's on Thursday (July 1).

The funds will help a wide range of good causes for the Steve Waugh Foundation, in partnership with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, including projects in India and Australia as well as raising awareness for rare diseases.

Steve Waugh said: "Lord's is a really special place for me and I've got some great memories here, including making my second ever Test century. It's great to see so many old friends and I'd like to thank them all for their support for what has been a really special evening for me.

"We've raised a lot of money for good causes and that's the most important thing. I was brought up believing that teamwork is the cornerstone of being successful and that means helping others whenever you can. So many young people will benefit from the generosity shown by those who have attended this event and knowing we can make a real difference makes it all worthwhile."

Among the guests at the star-studded event, which was organized by Greg Coffey of Moore Europe Capital Management, were Waugh's fellow Laureus World Sports Academy members Edwin Moses, Daley Thompson and Sean Fitzpatrick.

Also attending were Aussie cricket legends Merv Hughes, Justin Langer and Mike Hussey, former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock and fellow countryman Barry Richards, West Indies bowler Courtney Walsh, leading Formula One driver Mark Webber and Australian Olympic ski champion Alisa Camplin.

Funds were raised through an auction with lots including a commemorative bat owned by Steve Waugh; a driving experience in supercars; and golf with Waugh and fellow Laureus World Sports Academy member and former England cricket captain Ian Botham.

Waugh is one of the greatest cricketers ever to play the game, scoring 32 Test centuries at an average of 51 and taking almost 100 wickets, masterminding 41 Test victories as captain.

The Laureus Foundation addresses social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives.  Since its inception Laureus has raised more than €35 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of over one million young people. Laureus currently supports 78 community sports projects around the world. 

The Foundation addresses  issues  in  particular  involving,  but not limited to, young   people impacted   by   social   exclusion,   gun  and  gang  violence, discrimination,  community  integration,  peace  and reconciliation, and education.

JOHANNESBURG, June 26, 2010 - Former South Africa football captain Lucas Radebe believes the Laureus Sport for Good Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa can be a springboard for further global change for young people through sport.

The widest gathering of the Laureus Sport for Good global network provided an opportunity for 22 Laureus projects from around the world to share knowledge and experience to use sport as a tool for social change.

Laureus Ambassador Lucas Radebe said: "I'm delighted to have attended such a significant summit which is going to have tangible benefits for the future of youth sports community projects around the world.

"Exchanging ideas and best practice underlines not only the differences between the challenges that we face helping young people across the world, but what a significant impact Laureus is making to improve the lives of those who need it most. Bringing these ideas together can ensure that Laureus continues to grow and maintain the progress it has made over the past ten years."

Delegates undertook a wide range of activities including presentations and interactive workshops on ‘leadership through sport'; consultations on how to strengthen the global network of Laureus funded projects; and sporting sessions that showcase how projects from different continents use sport as a social and educational tool. These sessions took place both in the conference rooms and on training pitches with a range of sports showcased including volleyball, netball, football and boxing.

Morné du Plessis, Chairman of Laureus South Africa, said: "The Laureus Sport for Good Summit gave us the chance to meet and discuss a range of leadership issues in sport today, as well as focusing on how best we can expand the whole Laureus concept for the good of sport in South Africa and around the world. What better way to showcase our Summit while Africa is at its most unique and vibrant?" 

Laureus World Sports Academy Chairman Edwin Moses believes the summit was a huge success. He said: "The Laureus Sport for Good Summit has shown us once more how determined our international project partners are to instigate real change around the world. Youth is our future and the impact Laureus is having around the world gives communities a chance to flourish and for individuals to thrive."

Representatives from 12 Laureus South Africa Foundation projects and ten Laureus Global Foundation projects were present at the summit. Global project visitors were MYSA (Kenya), Moving the Goal Posts (Kenya), Spirit of Soccer (Cambodia), Magic Bus (India), Coaching for Hope (Mali), Kick 4 Life (Lesotho), Perez Centre for Peace (Israel), Grassroots Soccer (South Africa), Fight for Peace (Brazil and UK) and Active Communities Network (UK). 

The Laureus Foundation addresses social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives.  Since its inception Laureus has raised more than €35 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of over one million young people.

Laureus currently supports 78 community sports projects around the world including 12 in South Africa: Buffalo City Soccer School, Fight With Insight, Free The Youth, Little Champs, PeacePlayers International, Sport for All, Future Champs, Soweto Schools Rugby Project, Indigo Youth Movement, Makomba-Ndlela Youth Movement and the newly established Lungisani Indlela and Johannesburg Cubs.

LONDON, June 26, 2010 - On the middle Saturday of the Wimbledon fortnight, some of the biggest names of world tennis decamped from SW19 to Mayfair's Westbury Hotel for a champagne reception to show their support for Martina Navratilova's forthcoming ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Amongst those to join Martina were her Tennis Channel commentary partner, Jimmy Connors, her doubles partner, Jana Novotna, Vijay Armitraj  and in advance of her Round of 16 encounter with Belgian compatriot Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters

The tennis stars were joined by Laureus Academy members, Sir Bobby Charlton and Daley Thompson and Laureus Friend and Ambassador, Michael Lynagh.

During the reception Martina revealed full details of her plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa. Martina, who finished radiotherapy treatment last week following breast cancer, will lead a group of 28 climbers, including Deshun Deysul, South Africa's greatest female mountaineer, German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British mountaineer Annabelle Bond, up the 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) mountain in December.

Martina also announced the creation of a specific website page where donations can be made to help her with her fund-raising goal - http://www.laureus.com/get-involved/mount-kilimanjaro-climb

Before the climb Martina will be visiting the Laureus-supported Mathare Youth Sports Association project in Nairobi - the kind of project which will benefit from funds raised during Martina's Kilimanjaro Climb.

PARIS, June 26, 2010 - Almost 100 saddle-weary sore cyclists proudly reached the Arc De Triomphe this afternoon after completing the 226-mile Laureus London to Paris Bike Ride in aid of international sports community projects.

The three-day ride set off for Portsmouth on Thursday (June 24) morning, and continued via Ouistreham, near Caen in Normandy through the historic location of Bernay and then a 100 mile final day through Evreux and Versailles, before finishing at the Arc de Triomphe in the centre of Paris.

The cyclists, most of whom are employees of event partner St. James's Place Wealth Management, expect to raise a total of £200,000 for the Laureus Urban Stars Programme, a youth, sport and development initiative aimed at inner city young people. The event is aimed at raising funds to support the replication of this successful London programme into other UK cities.

Five time Tour de France winner and Laureus World Sports Academy Member, Miguel Indurain and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan, both ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, joined the riders along the route.

Miguel Indurain, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy said: "The dedication of the amateur riders has been outstanding and I really enjoyed cycling with them through France. Laureus does so much important work to help improve the lives of young people and this event will continue to grow while we raise vital funds for our programmes."

Michael Vaughan said: "I thought that facing the might of a Test attack would be the most physically demanding sporting challenge of my career but this ride has really tested my endurance levels. It's been a lot of fun and it's been great to meet so many new people who are pushing themselves in the name of such a good cause."

Based in inner cities around the UK, this multi-sports programme is delivered by the Active Communities Network which is committed to the use of sports, arts and cultural activities to improve youth citizenship, social inclusion and community cohesion.

The initial project is supported by Laureus and was developed in London. The aim of this fundraising initiative is to expand the programme into other cities around the UK.

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation was founded 10 years ago and now supports 78 projects in 32 countries. Laureus has seen first-hand the positive effect that sport has in tackling some of the world's most challenging social issues from mental health, HIV/Aids, and substance abuse to crime, social exclusion, and violence.

Spain's Miguel Indurain, indisputably one of the greatest cyclists of all time, accomplished one of the most spectacular feats in sport when he became the first man to win the Tour de France, the world's premier distance cycling event, five times in succession, from 1991-95. In 1996 he also won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in the individual time trial.

Michael Vaughan was the first England cricket captain in almost 20 years to win the Ashes against Australia when he guided England to victory in 2005. He captained England in 51 Tests between 2003 and 2008, winning an England record 26 Tests.

Laureus is a universal movement that celebrates the power of sport to bring people together as a force for good. Laureus is composed of three core elements - the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards - which collectively celebrate sporting excellence and harness the power of sport to promote social change.

Indurain is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sporting legends. The Academy members volunteer their time to act as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation by using their influence to highlight the plight of disadvantaged children and supporting humanitarian projects around the world. Vaughan is a Friend and Ambassador for Laureus.

The mission of the Laureus Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a global programme of sports-related community development initiatives. Currently there are 78 projects around the world supported by Laureus. Since its inception Laureus has raised over €35 million for sports-based projects which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people.  

LONDON, June 24, 2010 - A group of almost 100 cyclists from across the UK have set out on a journey of more than 225 miles to Paris to raise funds for international sports community projects including the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

The event, taking place from 24-27 June, has attracted nearly 100 cyclists from
St. James's Place Wealth Management who are aiming to raise a total of £200,000. They will be joined en route by former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan and the five time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain, both ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

The ride will raise money for the Urban Stars Programme, a joint fundraising initiative between the St. James's Place Foundation and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. 

Based in inner cities around the UK, this multi-sports programme is delivered by the Active Communities Network which is committed to the use of sports, arts and cultural activities to improve youth citizenship, social inclusion and community cohesion.

The initial project is supported by Laureus and was developed in London. The aim of this fundraising initiative is to expand the programme into other cities around the UK.

The three-day, 226-mile ride set off at 8am this morning, headed for Portsmouth, the first overnight stop. After a ferry crossing to Ouistreham, near Caen in Normandy, the ride routes for two days through the historic location of Bernay and then a 100 mile final day through Evreux and Versailles, before finishing at the Arc de Triomphe.

Miguel Indurain, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy is undertaking his second ride on behalf of Laureus and said: "I'm delighted to be able to help raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and I'm inspired by the great work it does to help young people who need their support the most. It will be great to revisit France, where I have so many magical cycling memories."

Michael Vaughan said: "This is the longest cycle ride I have ever undertaken and it's going to be quite a challenge, but I'm really looking forward to finishing in Paris and I know the sense of achievement, coupled with the funds raised for Laureus, is going to make it so worthwhile."

Laureus Sport for Good Foundation was founded 10 years ago and now supports 78 projects in 32 countries. Laureus has seen first-hand the positive effect that sport has in tackling some of the world's most challenging social issues from mental health, HIV/Aids, and substance abuse to crime, social exclusion, and violence.

Spain's Miguel Indurain, indisputably one of the greatest cyclists of all time, accomplished one of the most spectacular feats in sport when he became the first man to win the Tour de France, the world's premier distance cycling event, five times in succession, from 1991-95. In 1996 he also won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in Atlanta in the individual time trial.

Michael Vaughan was the first England cricket captain in almost 20 years to win the Ashes against Australia when he guided England to victory in 2005. He captained England in 51 Tests between 2003 and 2008, winning an England record 26 Tests.

Laureus is a universal movement that celebrates the power of sport to bring people together as a force for good. Laureus is composed of three core elements - the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards - which collectively celebrate sporting excellence and harness the power of sport to promote social change.

Indurain is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sporting legends. The Academy members volunteer their time to act as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation by using their influence to highlight the plight of disadvantaged children and supporting humanitarian projects around the world. Vaughan is a Friend and Ambassador for Laureus.

The mission of the Laureus Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a global programme of sports-related community development initiatives. Currently there are 78 projects around the world supported by Laureus. Since its inception Laureus has raised over €35 million for sports-based projects which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people. 

WIMBLEDON, June 22, 2010 - Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, has revealed full details of her plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in East Africa to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Martina, who finished radiotherapy treatment last week following breast cancer, will lead a group of 28 climbers, including Deshun Deysul, South Africa's greatest female mountaineer, German Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber and British mountaineer Annabelle Bond, up the 5,895 metres (19,341 feet) mountain in December.

Martina also announced the creation of a specific website page where donations can be made to help her with her fund-raising goal - http://www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili.

She said: "Climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro is part of the approved treatment. Scaling new heights while battling cancer. Basically I'm cancer free now and you're encouraged to be very active during radiation and after radiation.  The more in good shape you are, the better you will deal with the treatment and also of course hopefully will keep it from coming back.  And so it's life as usual. 

"I planned on climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro when Laureus approached me early in the year, and those plans haven't changed and I'm gonna get up there and hopefully get to the top in December.

"It may prove to be too much, who knows.  Not because of my age or because of the cancer but you never know how you're going to deal with the altitude until you get there.  I think the highest I've ever been is about 12,000 feet, so this will be another 7,000 feet higher.   We'll see how the body reacts.  But I'll definitely do my training beforehand. Whatever I'm supposed to do, I will do."

Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: "This is a remarkable undertaking by a remarkable woman. Her whole life has been an expression of determination, both in her sports career and away from it. I suppose we should not be surprised after her health problems this year that she is not prepared to compromise and is getting on with her life, and doing what she does so marvellously well, giving her whole-hearted support to the work of the Laureus  Sport for Good Foundation."

Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the world's highest freestanding mountain. The expedition will ascend by the Rongai Route, which has been mostly unused for many years. It starts in a corn field before giving way to alpine forest. The climb progresses to moorlands on a gentle gradient, which then begins to increase through rolling terrain. There are some short, steep, grassy slopes to climb before leaving vegetation behind. The next section is a five kilometre wide, lunar-like desert area.

The route to the summit continues up scree slopes made up of loose rock. Once on the rim of the crater, the steep incline gives way to undulating ups and downs on the way to the summit. At this point there will be ice and snow underfoot.  The climb will take seven days, from December 6 - 12.

Before the climb Martina will be visiting the Laureus-supported Mathare Youth Sports Association project in Nairobi - the kind of project which will benefit from funds raised during Martina's Kilimanjaro Climb.

Based in one of the largest and poorest slums in Nairobi in which HIV/AIDS and other diseases are widespread, the project has pioneered the use of football as a tool to encourage co-operation and raise self-esteem in the young people of the community. 

Each year MYSA organises thousands of matches for around 20,000 young people, playing in over 1,000 leagues.  Success is measured not just by the goals scored in matches, but by the work the young people do in cleaning up the slums.  MYSA has been supported by Laureus since 2000. It has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.

Martina said: "I've been to many projects but the kids in Africa and in Kenya particularly have so little.  I've spent a lot of time there and I'm always amazed by the attitude of the people in Kenya and Tanzania, where Kilimanjaro is. It's great to be involved in these projects where very little goes a long way.  And so it's almost ridiculous not to do something.  And so I'm glad that I can help a great, great project."

Martina Navratilova is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sporting legends who volunteer their time to act as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

The mission of the Laureus Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a global programme of sports-related community development initiatives. Currently there are 78 projects around the world supported by Laureus. Since its inception Laureus has raised over €35 million for sports-based projects which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people. 

The Laureus Sport For Good Foundation focuses on bringing sport to help young people find a way out of the slums of India and Africa, out of gangs and drugs in South America, even provide a safe space in which to play football away from the land mines of Cambodia to name a mere few of its projects all over the world.

A VNR will be available for download at:

FTP Address: laureus-ftp1.iweb-ftp.co.uk
Username: laureus-kili
Password: kili4
For queries regarding the VNR please contact Latasha.Jastrzebski@laureus.com

Interviewer: Wimbledon is your home territory. You dominated it so many years. Do you get excited every time Wimbledon comes round?Martina Navratilova: Of course I do. It’s great to get on the green grass again even now I’m not hitting the ball as hard. But it’s a great opportunity again for Roger [Federer] and Serena [Williams] to keep dominating. They’ve been so good on the grass. You have to think [the men’s singles] will be between Federer and [Rafael] Nadal. But now [Andy] Murray is really going to want to redeem himself after a pretty poor French Open, but at the same he won a few matches, where he hadn’t been winning much at all. So he’s gonna be feeling pretty happy to get on the grass. And for Roger it’s like coming home. So it’s gonna be a fascinating tournament for the guys.Interviewer: Who is it more home for? Everyone loves Federer?Martina: I think Roger, of course. He’s won it, what, six times now? He’s got 16 Grand Slams now. And he’s only lost once and that was to Rafael two years ago in a big five set final. Last year Rafael didn’t get to play, so hopefully this year he’ll be healthy. [Andy] Roddick is gunning for Wimbledon as well, so you can’t discount him. He might even have a better chance than Murray because he won’t have the kind of pressure that Murray has. But that’s a fearsome foursome right there. Interviewer: Murray is playing at home at Wimbledon? Is that good or bad for a home player?Martina: You know he’s got a chance to win every Grand Slam he plays, other than maybe the clay, not quite yet. But US Open, Wimbledon and Australia, he can win any of those and he’s been in the finals already at the US Open and the Australian Open. Whereas Tim Henman, for him, really the only hope was Wimbledon. He wasn’t going to win on the slower hard courts. But Murray I think just rises to the occasion. I think it would help him more than hurt him, being Scottish, being British, because he will have the support. It would be easier if he had already won another Slam. But at the same time I think we all would dream about being British and winning Wimbledon. So, you know, this is what you want. This is the kind of pressure you want. So I think he’s been embracing it pretty much so far.Interviewer: Tim was obviously a terrific player and didn’t quite win Wimbledon. Do you think Murray has a different mentality? Is it likely to make him more likely to win?Martina: Andy Murray has a much bigger game than Tim Henman ever had. I mean for Henman, things had to sort of fall in place for him, and of course he ran into one of the best players of all times which is Pete Sampras, who was amazing on the grass. So Federer, you know, beat him once, but didn’t really have to put up with him year after year after year. And Murray would have a hard time with Pete Sampras as well. But now the grass is much slower and Murray has a bigger game than Tim Henman, more weapons. Of course he’s huge. He’s got a big reach and he’s fast, so fast for such a big guy. So you know, he’s got a much bigger opportunity. For him he should win a Grand Slam. For Henman it was like hoping that things would fall right and he would win Wimbledon, because he had a perfect game for it, but was out-gunned. Murray’s not going to be out-gunned and he can win on any surface, so he should win a Grand Slam before his career is over, or more than one.Interviewer: On the women’s side we have the Williams’s back at the top of the rankings now -familiar territory you might say. They’re obviously perfectly suited to Wimbledon conditions?Martina: Well now that they’re in opposite ends of the draw, so they’re happy about that. The pressure’s off. And it will be hard to not see another Williams final. Justine Henin would dearly love to win this tournament to complete her Grand Slam résumé of winning all four, and also not having done so well at the French, I think losing earlier than she expected. She has been gearing her game to be more aggressive to suit the grass with the eye, I think, on winning Wimbledon. So she can be under-estimated, but, man, I would hate to be running into those two because, you know, they’re just so big, so strong. Serena’s so strong, Venus is so long, it’s hard to get the ball past them on the base line. When Venus comes to the net, good luck, you know, with that, trying to get the ball over her or around her, you best go through her, that’s your best chance. So chances are it’ll be a Williams final, but who knows. [Nadia] Petrova’s been playing great ball. She’s done great in Australia and in France, and she should do well on the grass with her big serve. But chances are it’ll be a Williams final, yeah.Interviewer: I remember a couple of years ago we were talking about Ana Ivanovic. We were talking about the continual and refreshing new names that were coming through into the rankings. The woman’s game is constantly changing it seems.Martina: Well, yes, we have some new names like Wozniacki, Jankovic sort of in and out, but Ivanovic has gone away and it’s been the, the same old guard with the Williams sisters, and Clijsters hopefully will be healthy and ready to go. And the Russians that have been around for a while which is Safina, Dementieva, Kuznetsova, Petrova, Sharapova. So it’s more of a same, I would say [the] same nucleus that we’ve had. Wozniacki is the only really outsider that hasn’t been talked about a couple of years ago and she’s now a bona fide contender. But it’s been baffling to me how some of the women get up to No 1 or No 2 and then they fall out of the top ten, like Kuznetsova, Ivanovic. That didn’t used to happen. You know, once the women got to the top they stay there. We’ve had more flux in the top ten, in the top five. But perhaps that’s also due to much greater depth in the game. Many more women capable of winning Grand Slams, so it’s kind of good news, bad news, we have a lot more people that can get to the top. But because of that we don’t have, you know, the super stars, other than the Williams sisters, to really grab a hold of the game.Interviewer: We have the phenomenon of the returning players. Suddenly we’ve invented...Martina: ... the Belgians.Interviewer: Belgians bouncing back. How well do you think they have done? Obviously Clijsters won a Grand Slam? What do you think would drive them? Martina: I think they both quit too soon. Kim wanted to start a family. Justine just seemed to have had enough and say, I want to have a normal life now, and then she got tired of it after a couple of years. The adrenalin rush that you get from competing out there, in front of the whole world, you know, it’s hard to replace. But most of all it’s hard to replace that which you do so well. Justine had been No 1 in the world and, you know, you sort of get validated with your effort. Tennis really tells you exactly what you’re doing and it’s nice to have that certainty and, it’s nice to do something that well. We’ll never do anything as well as we play tennis. No way. Even if we perhaps succeed in another career, it will never be as good. So it’s hard to give that up, and they’re still in the prime of their physical lives so why not, it’s great to see them back.Interviewer: You expect to see one or both of them win more Grand Slams?Martina: I definitely do. I think Justine has a bigger game, but she has to work so hard for her points because she’s so much shorter than everybody else, 5ft 5¾ins. And you know that she’s giving up a lot of space to a Serena or a Venus on reach. If Serena puts her arm out or Venus puts her arm out, you know, they’re going to have a foot plus of reach advantage. So, Justine has to work so hard for every point. Kim doesn’t have the weapons. She’s just basically a retriever, so she has to work hard as well. It gets harder when you get older to have to work that hard for every point. But they have the goods to win a Slam that’s for sure. I mean, Kim did it last year at the US Open and Justine got to the finals in Australia and hopefully we’ll see her go deep into the draw at Wimbledon.

  ....see http://www.laureus.com/ for videocast and full transcript

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova, a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, talks at length in an interview on Laureus TV.

Material on the Laureus website is available for media use free of charge provided full credit is given, for example.... "Martina Navratilova speaking on Laureus website, www.laureus.com"

Among Martina's comments are:

• On her health: "The cancer's out of my body. I've played in the French Open during the Legends. And playing the ladies invitational at Wimbledon, so I'll be active that way. Basically I'm cancer free now and you're encouraged to be very active during and after radiation."
• On climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro: "It's scaling new heights while battling cancer. The more in good shape you are the better you will deal with treatment. I planned on climbing Mt.Kilimanjaro when Laureus approached me early in the year, and those plans haven't changed and I'm gonna get up there and hopefully get to the top."
• On Wimbledon: "You have to think [the men's final] will be between Federer and Nadal. And it will be hard not to see another Williams [women's] final."
• On Andy Murray: "He is really going to want to redeem himself after a pretty poor French Open. You know he's got a chance to win every Grand Slam he plays, other than maybe the clay, not quite yet. But US Open, Wimbledon and Australia, he can win any of those."

Laureus has now launched a Laureus Kilimanjaro page on its website, where donations can be made towards Martina's target to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.  Go to http://www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili for more information.

A VNR will be available for download at:

FTP Address: laureus-ftp1.iweb-ftp.co.uk
Username: laureus-kili
Password: kili4
For queries regarding the VNR please contact Latasha.Jastrzebski@laureus.com

Interviewer: This has been a very eventful year. I believe you are having treatment at the moment. How's that going?

Martina Navratilova: I have. The cancer's out of my body. I'm playing, I've played in the French during the Legends. First time we had women competing, the Legends competing at the French Open. And of course playing the ladies invitational at Wimbledon, so I'll be active that way. And then I got that little climb to do in December.

Interviewer: This is part of the approved treatment for you?

Martina: Very approved treatment. I think, you know, scaling new heights while battling cancer. I mean I almost feel guilty because my cancer's not that difficult as most cancers are, so I got the good cancer. Basically I'm cancer free now and you're encouraged to be very active during radiation and after radiation. The more in good shape you are the better you will deal with the treatment and, and also of course hopefully will keep it from coming back. And so it's life as usual. I planned on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro when Laureus approached me early in the year, and those plans haven't changed and I'm gonna get up there and hopefully get to the top in December.

Interviewer: You say part of the treatment is to stay active, but it's very active to climb a 19,000 foot mountain.

Martina: Yeah, it may prove to be too much, who knows. So not because of my age or because of the cancer but you never know how you're going to deal with the altitude until you get there. I think the highest I've ever been is about 12,000 feet, so this'll be another 7,000 feet higher. We'll see how the body reacts. But I'll definitely do my training beforehand. Whatever I'm supposed to do, I will do. The more long distance stuff, which is torture for me. I love fast sports, you know, basketball, hockey, tennis, fast-moving. If I have to run an hour it's torture for me. So I will have to do some of that, more long distance, biking and hiking and running. But I will prepare because that's me. I like to leave no stone unturned and be ready.

Interviewer: You've been to a Laureus project in Kenya at Mathare. Have you been to Mt Kilimanjaro or been near it?

Martina: I've been near it many times, but I haven't seen it. I've spent a lot of time in Kenya and in Tanzania, but I've never seen it. It was always in the clouds, but I'm looking forward to that experience and actually standing on the mountain because I've only seen it from the aeroplane, took a picture of the very tip of it. So I'm very excited that I shall be standing where I took the photo of. I never thought it would happen. I tried to organise for a long time so when Laureus approached me to climb as a way to raise awareness and funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, I jumped at it. I'm like yes, please can I go.

Interviewer: There is a very serious point to the expedition. It is to raise funds. Laureus supports over 70 projects around the world and in ten years has helped to improve the lives of a million children. The fact that you went to a project quite nearby in Kenya must give you some resonance.

Martina: It does, of course. I've been to many projects but the kids in Africa and in Kenya particularly, they had so little. And I've spent a lot of time there and I'm always amazed by the attitude of the people there in, in this country, and of course Kilimanjaro's in Tanzania, but they're the same people. They speak Swahili and they have the Maasai throughout. And it's great to be involved in these projects where very little goes a long way. And so it's almost ridiculous not to do something. And so I'm glad that I can help, have a good time myself and most of all help a great, great project. So yes, it's very close to my, to my heart. I could live in Kenya in a heartbeat so I'm very happy to be a part of this project and hopefully we'll make a difference.

Interviewer: I believe last time you were there you discovered the library at Mathare and you felt it was a bit short in some areas, and you took action to sort that out.

Martina: Yeah, they had National Geographic, volumes of it, but then they ended in like, I don't know, 1984, whatever year it was that ended. So I sent them, I don't know, about 15 years' worth of National Geographic. I wanted to keep them updated, so I sent a bunch of issues there so that the kids could keep reading and learning and I think it's a great magazine. You know, nice to be able to help in a little way.

Please go to the website, check it out and donate whatever you can afford because every dollar, every pound, every euro counts and we appreciate your help. And, you know, I need your help because I need the emotional help, the push to keep climbing because I know I'll be tired, but we're gonna keep climbing so that we can raise more money. So we appreciate any help that you can give to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and this particular project of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.