Check out the action from the first leg of Laureus: Breaking the Cycle of Violence…

I’ve just finished the first leg of the Laureus: breaking the Cycle of Violence campaign and I can tell you that it was an incredible experience. The ride started at the Manchester United football ground, Old Trafford, where it was a great honour to have Tanni Grey-Thompson wave us off.

Daley begins the first leg of Laureus: Breaking the Cycle of Violence

All sorts of personalities including sportmen, actors, cycling enthusiasts and project leaders, decided to join me on the ride but I had no idea they were all such keen cycling enthusiasts! Read more

I’m in Manchester getting ready for the ‘Grand Depart’ tomorrow. OK, so it’s not exactly the Tour de France but I’m pretty sure I’ll be feeling it after a week.

This afternoon I’m visiting a football project called Kickz, run by the Manchester United Foundation. I’m going along with Hugo Porta, the Argentinian Rugby Legend, who has kindly agreed to join me along the whole route (I’m hoping he’s not going to embarrass me!). We’ll be doing a few cycling competitions with the young people from the project and it should be a lot of fun.

Laureus will be taking a few pics and some video footage, which should be up later today.

This Wednesday (July 8), I’m setting off on a week’s cycle from Manchester to London. The aim of the ride is to highlight the ways in which sport can help to tackle youth crime. On the way, I’ll be visiting projects which use sport to deal with these issues.

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation has commissioned a special report on the role which sport can play in fighting gang violence and gun and knife crime. I urge you to read this report as it makes very interesting reading. A gang is actually not that different from a sports team, both provide you with a sense of belonging, status and excitement. But, while sport also helps you develop control over your emotions and learn to respect certain boundaries, being in a gang can be destructive. Read more