Thursday, 07 April 2011 08:08
Cathy Freeman impressed by Oz diversity ahead of Sydney Triathlon
SYDNEY, April 7, 2011 - Laureus sports legend Cathy Freeman led the applause as youngsters from Sydney and Canberra took part in displays of traditional Indigenous games and rugby league skills sessions to the delight of Australia’s 2000 Olympic triathlon golden girl and a group of very special sporting VIPs. “They were just great, it was wonderful to be here and marvellous to be part of such a fun day for such important causes. If I hadn’t been so pregnant, I would have got up and joined them,” said Cathy.
Cathy was joined by three fellow Laureus World Sports Academy Members, former world motor cycle champion Mick Doohan, Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser and double decathlon Olympic gold medallist Daley Thompson, plus current Olympic triathlon champions Emma Snowsill and Jan Frodeno, to mark the final countdown to the start of the 2011 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship series in Sydney on Sunday (April 10). Laureus is the global charity partner of the International Triathlon Union.
The event held at Waterloo Oval also celebrated the long-standing partnership between the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). Laureus first supported the ASC in 2001, through the Indigenous Sport Programme. Involvement in grassroots sports by young people from disadvantaged communities is a key objective of Laureus and the ASC.
One of the highlights of the day was the announcement that Australia’s Emma Snowsill and Germany’s Jan Frodeno are to become Laureus Ambassadors and volunteer their time to support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Cathy Freeman said: “It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to name Emma and Jan as members of the Laureus Ambassador programme. They are the first triathletes to become Laureus Ambassadors and I am sure they won’t be the last. They will be joining many other Laureus Ambassadors around the world who give their time so generously to help others.”
Emma Snowsill said: “Jan and I are truly delighted to have this honour bestowed on us. I can assure you we will do what we can to support the work of Laureus wherever we are. The partnership between Laureus and the ITU has been highly successful and it is great to know that as a sport we are able to help young people around the world through the influence of sport. It’s been great being here today to meet the kids and actually see Laureus and partners of the ASC in action.”
The sports stars were joined at Waterloo Oval by Indigenous school children, coaches and volunteers from key sports partners of the ASC. The Academy Members and triathletes met the children and watched as they demonstrated rugby league skills and played traditional Indigenous games. One of the key participation aims of the ASC is to increase the opportunities available to Indigenous and other disadvantaged peoples through sport. Key strategic partners of the ASC provide structured sports activities and development opportunities for communities where boredom and lack of opportunities can lead to socially degenerative behaviour. Sport can also be used as an effective engagement strategy to divert Indigenous youth away from risk taking and anti-social behavior within their communities.
Five-time world motor cycle champion Mick Doohan, who was elected to the Laureus Academy in February, said: “This is my first Laureus visit and it has been an amazing day. It’s been good to see the breadth and scope of Laureus activity. Today we have been able to support our link with triathlon, which is giving a significant boost to our charitable programme this year, and also to get a real flavour of what Laureus does in so many projects in so many countries around the world. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with the kids who are benefiting from what sport can offer them. It’s also great to see top athletes like Emma and Jan becoming part of the Laureus Family.”
Mick Doohan, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman and Daley Thompson are members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 48 of the greatest living sporting legends who volunteer their time to act as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The mission of the Laureus Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a global programme of sports-related community development initiatives. Currently there are 84 projects around the world supported by Laureus.
Since its inception, Laureus has raised over €40 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of more than one-and-a-half million young people. The mission of the Foundation is to use sport as the means to combat problems facing young people today such as HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, crime, social exclusion, landmines awareness, discrimination and health problems.
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