OLYMPIC CHAMPION FELIX SANCHEZ NAMED NEWEST LAUREUS AMBASSADOR
- ‘Using sport to help children across the country overcome challenges is near and dear to my heart’ – says Felix Sanchez
- Laureus to invest US$1.5 million in youth sport in New Orleans
- Pictures of Felix Sanchez in New Orleans at www.laureusarchive.com
NEW ORLEANS, September 19, 2014 – Double Olympic champion and Laureus Award winner Felix Sanchez has been named the newest Laureus Ambassador.
The track star immediately took part in a Youth Sport and Coaching panel discussion where it was announced that the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation would invest US$1.5 million to support youth sport in New Orleans over the next three years.
Sanchez said: “As the newest Laureus Ambassador and as a coach myself, I’m thrilled be able to take part in the panel here in New Orleans. Laureus USA is committed to providing support to organisations that use sport in order to help children across the country overcome challenges, which is an initiative near and dear to my heart.”
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, who also won two Olympic gold medals in the 400 metres hurdles event as did Sanchez, said: “Bringing a fellow Olympian, gold medallist and Laureus World Sport Award winner into the Laureus family is an honour. We are so pleased to welcome Felix as our newest Ambassador. Felix’s passion to get involved is inspiring and he will help us to spread the word that quality sports-based youth development programmes can make such an enormous difference in children’s lives across the world.”
Sanchez won the Olympic gold medal in 2004 in Athens and again eight years later in London, in exactly the same time of 47.63secs. It was a feat which won him the 2013 Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award.
The Youth Sports and the Importance of Coaching panel took place at the Chicory in New Orleans. Since 2012, Laureus USA has developed strong ties to the city and invested $1 million into quality sports coaching to ensure positive mentorship for children in the local community.
Laureus USA is launching a Request For Proposal (RFP) process for sport for development organisations. This RFP will provide these organisations with an opportunity to receive a multi-year grant and capacity building support from Laureus USA, as part of its “Model City” initiative. This will be a long-term approach to shine a spotlight on New Orleans as a gold standard city that fully embraces sport as a tool for social change, making New Orleans the first Laureus Model City.
Sanchez and Laureus USA will also be celebrating youth sport in New Orleans by visiting the Girls on the Run project the following day. Girls on the Run inspires local New Orleans girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
Sanchez joins an impressive list of current and former sportsmen and women around the world who support and promote Laureus and volunteer their time to work for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to use sport as the means to combat some of the world’s toughest social challenges facing young people today such as juvenile crime, gangs, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, social exclusion, lack of education, landmines awareness and health problems such as obesity. Since its inception Laureus has raised over €60 million and currently supports more than 150 community sports projects in 34 countries.
Tags:
