We launched a Facebook campaign, the first in our ten year history, entitled – GIVE THE GIFT OF SPORT on sportforgood.org
Backed by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, who feature on the website, including Boris Becker, Sir Bobby Charlton, Marcel Desailly, Tony Hawk and Martina Navratilova, GIVE THE GIFT OF SPORT aims to get people actively involved in Sport for Good, by participating in events, sharing information and donating funds.
After three days of hectic interviews, highly competitive golf and racing with the Academy members, a game of football with local children should have been a relaxing way to start the day of the awards – It wasn’t! But then what do you expect when professional sportsmen and women take part, namely Daley Thompson, Butch James, Hugo Porta and Nawal El Moutawakel. Watching the launch of a new Laureus project right here in Abu Dhabi really showcased the work the academy does week in, week out.
Kevin Spacey hosting the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi
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
It’s 9pm and I’m shattered so it’s not going to be the longest or most coherent post in the world.
We set off from Kingston at around 9.30 this morning after a certain Mr Daley Thompson arrived a little behind shcedule. we’ll forgive him. Anyway, the group gathered and everyone was in high spirits particularly as the skies were blue and the sun was shining.

The Team
Our friends from Tall Stories split us into a fast and slow group (though these would later prove to be misnomers) and we left towards Surrey and the North Downs.
The inaugural Laureus London-to-Paris Bike Ride begins tomorrow with Daley Thompson getting back on the bike to lead the peloton of cyclists across southern England en route to France. On the other side of the English Channel, they will be joined by five-time winner of the Tour de France Miguel Indurain, who will lead the ride at the end of the final day as it finishes at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees on September 26.
Funds raised from the event will be distributed to projects which tackle a range of issues such as social exclusion, gun and gang violence and conflict resolution.
Fingers crossed, there should be a video diary of the ride over the next few days…







