27th February 2010, Battersea Park, UK
Daley Thompson Get- Involved
Last Saturday morning saw members of the Laureus running team brave the very changeable (and very British) weather conditions, to take part in a training session with Laureus World Sports Academy Member and double decathlon Gold Medal Winner Daley Thompson at the Millennium Arena in Battersea Park.
The Laureus running team is made up of all those who are taking part in one of this year’s premier running events to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Distances range from a 10k to a full marathon! If you would like to see how you can become part of the Laureus Running Team or Get Involved in other activities to raise money for Laureus please follow this link:
After a warm welcome from the man in question it was time to get down to some real work and the warm-up. A simple couple of laps of the track were spiced up by instructions from Daley to touch the ground, jump in the air and run backwards. Some strides, of increasing length and speed, were followed by dynamic stretches overseen by the double gold medal winner. It was then time to go for a run around the beautiful environs of the park and along the picturesque River Thames. Read more
Thursday 11th February 2010, Milton Keynes, UK
Last Thursday saw a fantastic day out at the Dayton Track and at Mercedes-Benz UK HQ for the youngsters involved in the Laureus Motorv8 programme. After a 6 week programme of car mechanics, karting and social lessons, participants are rewarded with a fun Finals Day. This encompasses a trip to the Daytona Track where they have the opportunity to ride in a 2 seater on the main track and to test their karting skills on the smaller circuit. Read more
Children standing on horses at CSI Mercedes Event
The large audience at the Mercedes-CSI show was treated to a special presentation before the traditional main event on Sunday, when children and young people from the one-year-old Laureus Cavallo project gave an exciting display of their horse-riding abilities. The project, which promotes social skills among children and young people through their contact with horses, will be expanded in Switzerland during 2010 in response to strong demand. Read more
What a day! Despite the 5.15 start we left the Portsmouth Travelodge in high spirits. Although the Tall Stories support van was given the full drugs and weapons search by customs officials, we managed to get on the ferry first and secure the best seats. Incredibly the ferry even left 10 minutes early and we had a quick a fairly smooth journey across the channel. Yes, it was going to be a good day.
The first 21 mile leg to lunch flew by as we raced across a reasonably flat section of the Normandy countryside. The aches and pains of the South Downs drifted away and the world seemed wonderful place as we passed through the open fields and quaint villages in warm sunshine.
Lunch, as ever, was a treat with the Tall Stories boys providing homemade baguettes and all sorts of other goodies. Graeme, the slower* group’s guide, gave a short masterclass on drafting and working as a team, which meant that the overall pace of the day was significantly higher.
*I’ve referred to them as the slow group but I can guarantee that they’ve been travelling at a pace far higher than most people can manage – it’s just that the so-called fast group are full of annoying Ironmen and women.
After lunch, we had to deal with two reasonably difficult hills and the girls of the fast group continued to show some of the boys how it was done. It probably doesn’t help that Ken continues to use lunch and rest stops for a cheeky cigarette break but he knows the consequences. Marcus has no excuse other than eating his own bodyweight in food each evening.
Marcel Desailly, the French football legend who was born in Ghana and has now returned to live in Accra, received an ecstatic welcome from hundreds of young Ghanians as he visited a Laureus-supported OrphanAid Africa project in Ayeniah.
Marcel shows the kids his skills
Desailly, who was joined on the visit by Edwin Moses, the Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, met the Ayeniah community elders and project volunteers before taking part in football and basketball sessions with the young people. Desailly is a major supporter of OrphanAid Africa and became a Patron of the organisation in 2005. The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation also announced its support for OrphanAid Africa last year.
Marcel said:
Three years ago I met Lisa Lovatt-Smith who runs the project. She persuaded me to go and see it and when I did I knew immediately I wanted to get involved. I decided to raise money for food and medecine for the children, but I also realised the need for a sport element at the project, as I saw good potential in the children. All kids deserve a chance to be able to play sport. Sport gave me so much in my life, this is all about what I can give back to these children.
