Ana Peleteiro and Aldaba Foundation win Laureus España MARCA Sport for Good Honour
Ana Peleteiro and ALDABA Foundation are the recipients of the second annual Laureus España MARCA Sport for Good Honour, presented by Laureus Academy Members Edwin Moses and Hugo Porta in Malaga, Spain.
In a global online vote by readers of leading Spanish newspaper MARCA, skeleton racer Ander Mirambell and 'Cris contra el cáncer' finished second, whilst Patricia García’s 'Rugby Libre' initiative completed the podium.
The presentation, made to a successful athlete who has used their platform to serve others, is the centre piece of the MARCA Sport Weekend, staged by the leading Spanish newspaper, and attended by sports stars, administrators and government representatives.
The Awards were presented by Laureus Academy Members Edwin Moses and Hugo Porta, and MARCA director, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.
Olympic legend and Laureus Academy Member Edwin Moses, said: “For more than 20 years Laureus has used sport to help improve the lives of young people – more than six million so far – and MARCA shares our belief that Sport can change the world. This Award is presented to an athlete whose commitment goes beyond what they do on the track, in the sports hall or on the sports field. It’s a very prestigious Award.”
Three of the most respected and admired athletes in Spain have been selected as recipients of this prestigious honour in 2022. They are:
- Triple jumper Ana Peleteiro, and the Aldaba Foundation, which uses sport in the battle against gender-based violence. Peleteiro, bronze medal-winner at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, has always portrayed herself as a warrior for equality and has been part of active campaigns in Africa. She was on hand to collect a cheque for €15,000. "I want sport to act as a vehicle to help women who endure what is a very unpleasant situation", explained Peleteiro. "Our aim is to offer them another tool".
- Ander Mirambell, the skeleton racer and Spanish flag-bearer at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, who has also announced his retirement. He has become the recognisable sporting face of CRIS [contra el cancer] set up 12 years ago to promote research. The project upholds physical activity as a preventative measure against the disease. Mirambell collected a cheque for €10,000 on behalf of the organisation. "My mum was diagnosed with cancer in the 2017/18 season. That's when I found out about this association," he said.
- Patricia Garcia, arguably the greatest Spanish women’s rugby player of all time, who is set to retire next weekend. She has been promoting rugby as a tool for social change through her ‘PGR NGO’ programme. Garcia, who collected a €5,000 cheque on behalf of her organisation, commented: "I founded the NGO a few years ago, with the aim of using sport as a tool to educate people in values and also personal development. It is a national and international project, which has a presence in a number of countries, including Spain and Kenya."
The Laureus España MARCA Sport for Good Honour is a celebration of the longstanding alliance between leading Spanish newspaper MARCA, Laureus Sport for Good, which, since its inception, has helped to improve the lives of over six million young people and currently supports over 250 community programmes in more than 50 countries.
