Welcome to Laureus

LONDON, June 21, 2010 - World famous polo players Eduardo Heguy and his brother Nachi Heguy were among the many stars who attended the annual Laureus Polo Cup at Ham Polo Club on Friday (June 18), which raised funds for good causes in Argentina.

Laureus England beat Laureus Argentina 6-5 with the Alan Wyatt scoring four goals for the victors and Rafa Singh scoring three times for Laureus Argentina in a closely-fought game.

Laureus Academy Chairman Edwin Moses said: "This has been a very big year for the Foundation - we now have 78 projects in 36 countries and we have grown quite a bit in the last ten years. Academy Members dedicate a lot of their time all over the world.

"Laureus is all about making a difference through personal efforts and we're looking forward to growing even more in the next ten years."

The Laureus Polo Cup event attracted an enthusiastic celebrity audience including Laureus World Sports Academy Members Boris Becker, Sean Fitzpatrick, Hugo Porta and Daley Thompson. 

Rugby legend Hugo Porta, the President of Fundacion Laureus Argentina, said: "For the Sport For Good Foundation in Argentina this is the event of the year. We have raised funds that allow us to make dreams a reality for kids in our country. I would like to also thank the players because without them we could not have these events."

Laureus World Sports Academy member and tennis legend Boris Becker said: "I became a big fan of polo because of this event - how the players can handle the horse, the stick and hit the ball really impresses me and I recently went to the world championships in Argentina. It's a little bit too much for me but the key for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is raising a lot of money and that's why we have this event."

Polo superstar Eduardo Heguy said: "It's great to support this cause and we're really privileged to be able to help people through this sport that we love so much. It's fun to play this sort of charity match in front of so many sporting heroes."

Edwin Moses is Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique collection of 46 of the greatest living sports legends, who volunteer their services as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was set up to promote the use of sport as a tool for social change. 

Fundación Laureus Argentina is one of nine local Laureus Foundations under the umbrella of the global Laureus Foundation, which fund and promote sports activities for disadvantaged young people around the world. Fundacion Laureus Argentina supports four projects: Club Deportivo Barracas in General LaMadrid, Buenos Aires, which uses sport as well as a traditional Argentinian dance, the murga, to reinforce the importance of education, community, and values; the San Isidro Project in Buenos Aires, which has set up sports activity sessions and educational workshops in an area where crime, drugs, alcohol, violence and firearms use is prevalent; the West City Project in Mendoza, which uses football and hockey to address crime, delinquency and drug abuse; and Club Platense in Laprida which aims to a holistic development of its participants by offering a space with clear rules, solidarity amongst its members and a sense of community providing educational workshops, using football, rollerblading and chess.

 For pictures of the Laureus Polo Cup please visit www.laureusarchive.com

LONDON, June 19, 2010 - Double Olympic decathlon gold medalist and Laureus Academy member Daley Thompson, was joined by a group of fundraisers in Richmond Park, London, for a triathlon training day, ahead of the ITU Dextro Energy Triathlon in Hyde Park on Sunday 25 July.

Triathletes raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation were under the guidance of Britain's most successful multi-sport athlete Daley Thompson, who as official Team Coach, provided exclusive training tips and advice for his team of triathletes, which includes fellow Laureus Academy member and All Blacks legend Sean Fitzpatrick.

Thompson put the fundraisers through their paces with a bike session, starting with some distance work followed by a hard sprint session. The attendees then practiced some tight turns on their bikes and finished the session with a run.

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports over 75 projects worldwide, helping the lives of over one million children, is supported by members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, an association of 46 sporting legends.

The event at Hyde Park is SOLD OUT but there are limited places still available with the Laureus team. Racing for Laureus promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sports fans. If you are interested in joining the team please contact Campbell Gray at Laureus on ++ 44 (0) 20 7514 2794 or campbell.gray@laureus.com

More information can be found at http://www.laureus.com/get-involved/triathlons

Tuesday, 22 September 2009 dawned bright with hope in Amsterdam as some of Holland’s greatest sports stars came together to launch the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation The Netherlands.

Under the leadership of Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje and together with the three ambassadors; Esther Vergeer, Yvonne van Gennip and Pieter van den Hoogenband, the Laureus Foundation the Netherlands has already begun its Sport for Good work by initiating support for several projects throughout The Netherlands.

Projects:

• Laureus Maritime Challenge
• De Zomerkampen van Bas van de Goor Foundation
• Laureus Midnight Football League

Contact Details:

Laureus Foundation The Netherlands
Herengracht 436
1017 BZ Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Tel: +31 (0)20 524 6755
Fax: +31 (0)20 524 6794
info@laureus.nl
www.laureus.nl

Contact name:
Ernestine Fontein
ernestine.fontein@laureus.nl

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, June 9, 2010 - Children from the Laureus-supported Sport for All project enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime when German football legend and Laureus World Sports Academy member Franz Beckenbauer took them to visit the German World Cup team camp just four days before their opening match against Australia.

Beckenbauer was joined on the visit by Laureus Chairman Edwin Moses and they were all greeted at the Velmore Grand Hotel in Pretoria by renowned goalscorer Oliver Bierhoff, now a German FA official, and leading midfield player Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The youngsters from the Laureus-supported ‘Sport for All' project in Katlehong, Gauteng had the chance to sit down and talk to Beckenbauer and Bierhoff about the World Cup and football and the importance of sport in their lives.

At the end of the visit, German head coach Joachim Löw joined Franz Beckenbauer and Edwin Moses, and each of the children was presented with a German football jersey.

Beckenbauer, known as Der Kaiser for the imperious way he played his football, appeared 103 times for the national team and played in three World Cups. He was captain when the then West German team won in 1974, and he repeated the feat as manager in 1990.  He said: "The kids of Sport for All must today realise what an opportunity they have had to be the only children visitors at the hotel of the German team. I hope they will remember this all their lives."

Double Olympic gold medal winner Edwin Moses, who has also taken children from Laureus projects to meet the United States and the England World Cup teams, said: "Soccer isn't really my sport but I'm getting to be quite a World Cup expert now. What has impressed me most is the willingness and the enthusiasm with which everyone connected with these teams wants to meet and talk with the children.  Everyone talks about the legacy of the stadia and the infrastructure which the World Cup will leave in South Africa, but for me just as important is the human element. Today is what it is all about. Giving the kids this privilege is awe-inspiring. Thank you."

One of the most significant challenges in South Africa today is the increasing population of orphans and vulnerable children; these children are more often than not from child headed households or taken care of by grandparents or terminally ill parents. It is estimated that there are in excess of 800,000 orphans in the country at present.

The Laureus Sport For Good Foundation has contributed funding for orphans and vulnerable children to attend sports coaching with Sport for All, in poor and underdeveloped township areas.  Sport for All is currently based in five locations around the country. The children can play any sport they want to, including cricket, hockey, netball, soccer, rugby, volleyball, tennis or even various traditional games. Attending Sport for All coaching gives these children an outlet for their stress and escape from their daily troubles. It allows them to be just a ‘normal child' for a few hours everyday.

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA, June 8, 2010 - Dozens of children from KwaZulu-Natal will have the thrill of experiencing skateboarding for the first time, after Laureus World Sports Academy Member and US skateboard legend Tony Hawk presented a brand new portable Half-Pipe to the Indigo Youth Movement in Isithumba, a rural village near Durban. Also present was former South African cricket captain, Shaun Pollock, now a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme.

Multi-skateboard world champion Hawk handed over the Half-Pipe, which Laureus has made available to Indigo, that will allow more children in the region to access the sport and benefit from the advantages of taking part in the Laureus-supported project. 

The new portable, easy to set up Half-Pipe will allow the Indigo project to visit various locations around the region where people currently do not have access to skateboarding.

During his 20-year skateboarding career, Hawk defied gravity with his amazing tricks and became a role model to millions of young people around the world. After seeing the Half-Pipe set up in the Zulu village for youngsters to try out, Hawk said it was a very emotional moment.

He said: "I first came to Indigo last year and I was amazed what I saw.  This is one of the most remarkable skateboard sites in the world. And now I am excited to come back with a new ramp for the kids to enjoy. They are progressing at a rapid rate and I know this new structure will help them push their limits even more. Being able to watch these young people from difficult backgrounds test their skills on this new halfpipe is something that will stay with me forever. I am honored that we are able to provide such a great facility for these kids. It could truly change their lives."

Project founder Dallas Oberholzer said: "Having a sporting legend like Tony Hawk join us in Isithumba is a great sign that we are moving in the right direction. Some of the younger kids may not have known too much about who Tony was when he arrived, but the moment he got on that Half-pipe, you should have seen their wide-eyed amazement.  For me, this is what makes Laureus so great. Some of the most famous sportsmen and women of all-time are prepared to give their time to help us in our village. We're doubly grateful as Tony has visited us twice now. And this time he has brought this superb Half-Pipe for which I thank everyone at Laureus. The key thing about the ramp is we can use what we have learned through our experiences and replicate it in various locations where people do not have access to skate boarding opportunities and encourage them to stay positive."

Established in the heart of Isithumba, a rural Zulu village on the outskirts of Durban, the project has introduced young people to skateboarding and created an opportunity for the beneficiaries to be introduced to tourism, life skills and entrepreneurialism.

The main objectives of the project have been to introduce the sport to young rural village participants and to invite international guests to the village to learn more about Zulu culture. This has led to the rural participants learning how to skate and becoming more confident individuals.

Oberholzer said: "Our camp is situated in a Zulu village in the Valley of A Thousand Hills.  Just having English spoken around the Zulu community can only help its residents with the language barrier, which is intimidating for the young Zulu skaters. A small tea room shop has already opened which has attracted many visitors and become economically viable.  In the future we intend to provide employment to many locals through the youth camp."

Laureus currently supports more than 70 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.

MORULENG, SOUTH AFRICA, June 7, 2010 - Dozens of South African children screamed in delight as they watched the England World Cup team play a practice match against local team Platinum Stars in Moruleng, just five days before their opening Group C match against the United States.

Then the youngsters from the Laureus-supported ‘Sport for All' project in the Katlehong township in Gauteng and the ‘My Home' project in Rustenburg, had the chance to meet England coach Fabio Capello and members of the England World Cup squad.

The children from both projects had been brought to the Moruleng Stadium for this very special day out by Olympic track and field legend Edwin Moses, the Chairman of the Laureus World Sport Academy, and they watched enthralled as England beat Platinum Stars 3-0 with goals from Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney.

England head coach Fabio Capello said: "It was fantastic to share the day with the the Laureus kids. It's important for the children to know the value of life and the importance of mind and body."

And David Beckham, who is acting as player liaison for Fabio Capello, said: "Children are important. They are our future. I'm sure they had a great time today meeting all the players. I have boys of my own and I loved seeing the smiles on all their faces."

Edwin Moses said: "The children were excited, involved and thrilled to be here.  In their young lives, this was probably one of the most significant things that has happened to them. They will go back to their schools and their friends and tell them all about it. This is a real concrete example of sport making a difference. It's what Laureus is all about, world famous soccer stars happy to give their time in the middle of their most important championship to inspire young people.

"I would like to say thank you to Fabio Capello and the English Football Association for making this visit possible. As an American, I am not sure I can wish England too much good luck as they are playing against the United States in their opening match on Saturday (June 12). I had a great day yesterday meeting the US World Cup Team and I applaud organisations like the English FA and US Soccer, who share with Laureus the belief that we have to leave a legacy for the next generation."

One of the most significant challenges in South Africa today is the increasing population of orphans and vulnerable children. These children are more often than not from child-headed households or cared for by grandparents or terminally ill parents. It is estimated that there are in excess of 800,000 orphans in the country at present.

My Home is a ‘safe home' in Rustenburg which cares for 28 children: 14 Girls from age seven months to 18 years; 14 Boys from age eight months to 23 years. There is no contact with their biological parents, the children are not related and have been with My Home since they were babies and toddlers. There is a growing need in the country for the support of these safe homes, not orphanages. The mission of My Home is to strive to make a difference in these children's lives and futures.

The Laureus-supported Sport For All project in Katlehong welcomes orphans and vulnerable children at sports coaching sessions.  The children can play any sport they want to, including cricket, hockey, netball, soccer, rugby, volleyball, tennis or even various traditional games. Attending Sport For All coaching gives these children an outlet for their stress and escape from their daily troubles. It allows them to be just a ‘normal child' for a few hours everyday. Sport For All currently has four other franchises in Palmridge, Ganyesa, Thabazimbi and Atteridgeville. 

Edwin Moses is Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique collection of 46 of the greatest living sports legends, who volunteer their services as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was set up to promote the use of sport as a tool for social change. 

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.

For pictures of this and other Laureus events please visit http://www.laureusarchive.com/

The VNR is available, from the following FTP site:
Hostname/IP Address: laureus-ftp1.iweb-ftp.co.uk
Username: laureus-093
Password: 2africa3

PRETORIA WEST, June 6, 2010 - American double Olympic gold medal winner Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, led a group of excited South African children to meet the United States World Cup team at Pilditch Stadium, Pretoria West.

The children, who all attend the Soweto Schools Rugby project, were able to watch US coach Bob Bradley putting his squad through their paces just six days ahead of their opening match against England. 

Among the famous players they saw were Landon Donovan from Los Angeles Galaxy, who holds the American goal-scoring record with 42 goals in 120 appearances for his country, and goalkeeper Tim Howard who plays for Everton in the English Premier League.  The children then met the players for an informal autograph signing and photo session.

Edwin Moses said: "I know the children and the players had a great time today, and as an American I was delighted to be able to wish the players well and see how a soccer team prepares for a major championship.  The team has a million things to do preparing for their matches so I would like to say how grateful I am that they were still able to find time to host this visit. This is really the essence of Laureus - successful sportsmen taking time out to do what they can to encourage and inspire young people."

Dalisizwe Ndebele, Programme Manager of the Soweto Schools Rugby Project said: "The children were from a rugby-based project in Soweto, but like almost every young person in South Africa they are football mad and looking forward to the World Cup. This will be a once-in-their-lives sporting experience for them, and I am sure they will have many tales to tell when they go to the project and back to their schools in Soweto.  I would like to thank the United States World Cup team very much."

US midfield player Stuart Holden, who plays for English Premier League club Bolton, said: "We've had a great time since we came here. I knew there was going to be a buzz. It was great to meet all the kids today. People are so excited about the World Cup. For kids to come to the training camp and for us to interact with them is fun for us. I definitely think that sport has the capability to change the world. Soccer is such an international sport, it can unite people."

Lack of education is a fundamental problem for many children from impoverished homes in Soweto, the township near South Africa's biggest city of Johannesburg. The Soweto Schools Rugby Project addresses the differing standards of education provided by schools in impoverished areas compared to those in affluent areas through a structured intervention programme called Play to Learn, which teaches young people various school subjects while they are having fun playing rugby.  This can have a marked improvement on their academic attainment.

The project was established in July 2007 with just 250 participants, aged between 8-18 years, and based in four venues - Dobsonville, Jabulani, Rockville and Orlando. The ambitious target is to have over 4,000 children involved by 2011. 

Edwin  Moses  is  Chairman  of  the  Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique collection of 46 of the greatest living sports legends, who volunteer their services  as  global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was set up to promote the use of sport as a tool for social change.

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  more than 70 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.

The VNR is available from the following FTP site:
Hostname/IP Address: laureus-ftp1.iweb-ftp.co.uk
Username: laureus-093
Password: 2africa3

Pictures of visit to US World Cup team are available at http://www.laureusarchive.com/

MADRID, June 5, 2010 - Laureus World Sports Academy Member Miguel Indurain, five-time winner of the Tour de France, has taken part in his first ever triathlon, in the Madrid leg of the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship. 

Indurain's Laureus team, which included former Olympic swimmer Maria Pelaez and designer Modesto Lomba, came fourth in the team relay event and helped to raise awareness of the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in Spain. "It was a wonderful experience to participate in this spectacular event and to compete with Maria and Modesto," Indurain said after he finished his 20-kilometre bike ride.

Maria Pelaez was the first of the Laureus team to go, swimming the course laid out in the Casa de Campo's lake, before passing the baton to legendary cyclist Miguel Indurain who raced away on his bike to the final changeover where Modesto Lomba took over to run to the finishing line.

Indurain said: "It has been a great experience to participate in this spectacular sport and, indeed, to do it beside big much loved athletes and friends like Maria Pelaez, Modesto Lomba and the rest of the enthusiastic participants."

Laureus is the Global Charity Partner of the International Triathlon Union, and Indurain added: "Working with the Laureus Foundation is always very positive and rewarding because we know that we are supporting thousands of young people to overcome problems every day. Now I hope that all triathletes and supporters know a little more of the Laureus work in helping disadvantaged young people around the world, which is why our partnership with the International Triathlon Union is so important. It was a great opportunity to share the goals of Laureus with the other participants and the spectators."

At each of the five major Dextro Energy ITU World Championship events this summer, Laureus have places available for competitors to take part and raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.  Places are available in two categories - Sprint and Olympic Distance. Sprint is the category for the average competitor - a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre cycle ride and a five kilometre run. While Olympic Sprint is for those with previous experience of triathlons and who train specifically for the event - a 1,500 metre swim, a 40 kilometre cycle ride and a ten kilometre run. 

LONDON, June 3, 2010 - Legendary All Blacks rugby captain Sean Fitzpatrick and Bath fly-half Butch James, will be swapping Tri-Nations for triathlon when the pair line-up together to compete and raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series event in Hyde Park, London on Sunday 25 July.

The pair will be joined by Sky Sports presenter, James Gemmell, to form a rugby relay team in the Olympic Distance triathlon event, competing over the same course that will determine the destiny of the London 2012 triathlon gold medal in two summers' time.

Fitzpatrick is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 46 of the greatest living sporting legends, which is lending its full backing to the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation's Global Charity Partnership with the International Triathlon Union. While South African Rugby World Cup star Butch James is a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme.

Helping Fitzpatrick and James prepare for the London event will be double Olympic decathlon gold medallist, Daley Thompson, who will be acting as coach to a team of Laureus' fundraisers.

Fitzpatrick, who is regarded as one of the finest players ever to represent the All Blacks, is now juggling his preparation for the bike leg with his media commitments. He said: "Kiwis have always been pretty good at triathlon, with the likes of Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell up at the front - but perhaps an ex-rugby player is not best placed to continue that tradition. I'll be looking to Butch to give us a good start in the swim and then make some headway through the field before handing over to James.

"I'm thrilled with the partnership that Laureus has signed up to. We have been looking at ways in which more people can get involved to give the gift of sport and with triathlon such a boom sport worldwide, this is a brilliant opportunity, which I'm happy to get behind."

Butch James, who is now playing for Bath in the Guinness Premiership, is looking forward to getting his team off to a flying start in the Serpentine amidst the washing machine start. He commented: "I've never done a triathlon before but it looks like a lot of fun.  What goes on at the start doesn't look too different from a Saturday afternoon at the Recreation Ground, so I'll be ready!"

Through its ITU partnership, Laureus has 25 places (20 Olympic, 5 Sprint) up for grabs to race alongside Fitzpatrick and James, and to be coached by Daley Thompson. For the Hyde Park race, each member of the Laureus team will be asked to raise a minimum of £500. Local project beneficiaries will include the London Active Communities Project in Lambeth, which is committed to the use and promotion of sports, arts and cultural activities in order to improve youth citizenship, social inclusion and community cohesion.

Triathlon is one of the greatest challenges in sport, with competitors having to swim, cycle and run their way to the finishing line.  Triathletes range in ability from those operating at the very highest level of competition - the world champions - to the dedicated 'weekend runner' who is looking for an exciting challenge.  Sprint is the category for the average competitor - a 750 metre swim, a 20 kilometre cycle ride and a five kilometre run. While Olympic Distance is for those with previous experience of triathlons and who train specifically for the event - a 1,500 metre swim, a 40 kilometre cycle ride and a ten kilometre run. 

Anyone keen to join the Laureus fundraising effort should contact Campbell Gray at Laureus on 020 7514 2794 or campbell.gray@laureus.com