About Laureus
Laureus is a global organisation that celebrates sporting excellence and uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people.
The first Patron of Laureus was Nelson Mandela. At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000, he said:
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers.”
From that day, President Mandela’s powerful vision has become the philosophy of Laureus and the driving force behind its work.
Laureus Sport for Good
Laureus Sport for Good was inspired by the words of its Founding Patron, Nelson Mandela, who said at the first ever Laureus Awards in 2000, “Sport has the power to change the world.”
Laureus Sport for Good uses sport to reduce the impact of violence, conflict and discrimination, to enhance social and emotional development, to inspire healthy behaviour change and to increase educational achievements and employability skills.
Laureus Sport for Good has seen millions of young people come through its programmes and currently supports more than 275 programmes in over 50 countries that use the power of sport to transform lives.
The work of Laureus Sport for Good aims to address six key social issues that are affecting young people across the world:
Health & Wellbeing: Enhancing mental wellbeing and encouraging healthy behaviour
Education: Increased access to and completion of education
Gender Equity: Promoting equality, empowerment and safety
Employability: Developing skills and creating pathways to employment
Inclusion: Creating communities which embrace ethnic, cultural and physical differences
Peacebuilding: Resolving conflict, promoting community peacebuilding and creating safe space
A global leader in the sport for development sector, Laureus Sport for Good carries the endorsement and support of the Laureus World Sports Academy and Ambassadors, all role models and icons of sport, who volunteer their time to this important cause.
