With a death toll in excess of 184,000, it’s almost impossible to picture the individual men, women and children who perished in the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004.
Such numbers remain beyond our understanding; the brutality of such destruction surely unimaginable had it never actually come to pass.
In Sri Lanka alone, 35,322 were killed by the tsunami following a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean.
For young Sri Lankan Pulina Tharanga, however, it’s all too easy for him to put a face to individuals who lost their lives through this disaster.
He was one of countless children who lost a parent, in Pulina’s case his mother, because of the disaster.
And just months later tragedy struck once again when his father died in a boating accident.
He, along with his brother and sister, were left orphaned.
Pulina and his siblings at least had a loving grandparent to take care of them at that point, but nothing can be taken away from the grief and pain that the three children were left suffering, and how catastrophically their lives had been turned upside down in such a short time.
Pulina Tharanga at the crease
Pulina was just 11 years old when the disaster struck.
Like many young boys from Sri Lanka, cricket had always been a passion for Pulina as he grew up. Now it would come to be source of strength as well.
And just a year after the tsunami struck, Pulina took this passion for cricket to the Laureus-supported Foundation of Goodness project in Seenigama, Sri Lanka.
Since then he has achieved remarkable things through cricket, all from a period of such terrible personal tragedy.
It all started when Pulina moved to play for the Tamil Union Cricket Club in early 2011 having been encouraged by Kushil Gunasekera, a project leader at the Foundation of Goodness.
By all accounts he performed excellently, the decision to move was already seen as a success. But there was even greater success to come.
During his time playing at Tamil Union he was eventually watched by selectors for the Sri Lankan under-19 squad.
They were impressed.
And it wasn’t long before he was named in the Sri Lankan squad for the under-19 world cup and chosen to go on tour to India, around Sri Lanka, Australia and the West Indies in a Quadrangular tournament that took place later on in 2011.
Now aged 18, Pulina will naturally be aiming to further his cricket career, particularly for his national side.
Nevertheless, the remarkable goals he has already achieved truly stand as testament to his commitment and passion, and also to the unique power of sport to help young people like Pulina recover from tragedy and hardship.
Have you ever seen an Olympic gymnast take a boxing lesson from an undisputed world boxing champion?
Well, this was precisely what happened today at the Laureus Sport for Good Global Summit when five time Olympic gold medallist Nadia Comaneci was joined by the legendary Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a south London gym.
Marvelous Marvin helps Nadia with her boxing gloves...
...but the lesson doesn't last too long.
Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Nadia Comaneci were spending the last day of the Laureus Summit at a youth sports facility in south London along with other Laureus Academy Members Sean Fitzpatrick, Ilie Nastase, Franz Klammer, Mark Spitz, Hugo Porta, Mick Doohan, Dawn Fraser and Michael Johnson.
The Laureus Academy Members at the south London sports centre
The Academy Members were there to learn first hand how Laureus-supported projects are using sport to help young people the world over.
To do this, project leaders from PeacePlayers International led a basketball session attended by Ilie Nastase and Nadia Comaneci.
The KickFair project was at the centre to hold a football session attended by Franz Klammer, Mick Doohan and Hugo Porta.
And leaders from the MYSA and Coaching for Hope projects led a touch rugby session with Sean Fitzpatrick and Mark Spitz.
Of course, organisers from Fight for Peace held a boxing workshop attended by Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
It was a really special experience for the project leaders to meet the Academy Members and to show them how their projects really can change the lives of children for the better.
To learn more about what Laureus-supported projects are doing accross the world, be sure to follow us on Twitter @LaureusSport
“It’s taken quite a few years… but it’s happening.”
Opening the Laureus Sport for Good Summit in the heart of London, Edwin Moses addressed the excited audience to express how long he had looked forward to this event taking place.
And what an event it is.
Not only are project leaders from all over the world coming together to share ideas, but they are also being joined by a host of Laureus Academy Members.
Edwin was really enthusiastic about what a great opportunity this would be for project leaders as far afield as London to South Africa to learn about tackling issues that affect all countries equally.
But before the talks could begin, Academy Member Sean Fitzpatrick, still celebrating his beloved All Blacks’ victory at the Rugby World Cup, was keen to teach all those present something a little different: The famous ‘haka’.
The New Zealand dance made famous by the All Blacks.
And luckily it was recorded for you all to take a look at.
But before he gave his haka lesson, Sean had some slightly more serious things to discuss.
And they go to the heart of how sport has shown to be such a unique tool in helping communities the world over.
Sean said: ” It has been a difficult year [for New Zealand]. There has recently been disasters like the container ship off the coast of New Zealand leaking oil into the sea, the mining tragedy and, of course, the terrible earthquakes that struck Christchurch. But having the World Cup really helped… Sport has played an enormous part in building morale once again.”
If there is one lasting memory of this year’s Rugby World Cup, it is how sport really can bring joy to people after they have suffered terrible pain.
This was the case for an entire nation following the All Blacks’ victory over France at the World Cup Final, but it is also the case for a remarkably talented young rugby coach from Soweto in South Africa.
The name of this young coach is Bongiwe Nhleko, or ‘Bongi’ to her friends.
Bongi (top row, centre)
For Bongi, following a difficult childhood that included both hardship and tragedy, rugby has offered her chances in life she might never have imagined possible. Read more
BY SEAN FITZPATRICK
Laureus Academy Member and legendary All Blacks captain
Auckland was a very special place to be on Sunday as we celebrated the crowning of the new world champions New Zealand, after the 8-7 win over France.
After 24 years, the All Blacks have their second World Cup (copyright Getty Images)
