sporting legends Edwin Moses and Layne Beachley, along with Olympic gold medal winning triathlete Simon Whitfield and fellow triathletes Lisa Norden and Daniella Ryf were given an enthusiastic welcome by Australian children as they visited a grassroots sports project in Sydney.
The visit took place just 24 hours after the thrilling first round of the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series which had taken place in Sydney. Laureus is the official Global Charity Partner of the International Triathlon Union.
The project, implemented by the Australian Sports Commission operates at the basketball courts of the King George V Recreation Centre in the heart of Sydney, less than two kilometres from the world-famous Sydney Opera House. Laureus Sport for Good Foundation have operated in partnership with the Australian Sport Commission since 2000.
There was a special cheer from the young people at the project for Simon Whitfield, who won the inaugural Olympic triathlon in Sydney in 2000 - a memorable race set against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
Three days before the visit to the project Edwin Moses and Layne Beachley had joined many of the world's leading triathletes in Sydney to celebrate the ground-breaking new link-up with the sport which will benefit disadvantaged young people around the world. For at least the next two seasons, Laureus will be the official Global Charity Partner of the International Triathlon Union and funds raised will go to support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: "This has been a really amazing few days for Layne and myself. In this short space of time, we have seen the breadth and scope of Laureus activity. We have announced a major new tie-up with triathlon, one of the fastest growing sports in the world which will give a significant boost to our charitable programme, we have enjoyed the spectacle of an amazing sports event and applauded the elite athletes that took part in the world championship triathlon, and now we are here to enjoy a very special moment with some of the young people who are benefiting from the positive power of sport."
Australia's seven-time surfing world champion Layne Beachley, who is a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme and a former winner of the Laureus World Alternative Sports Award, said: "I've been to a Laureus supported surfing project delivered by the Australian Sports Commission's Indigenous Sport Programme in Jan Juc, so to come into the heart of the city to see the same care and devotion being offered to the kids in a totally different environment was impressive. I really want to thank and applaud the volunteers, the coaches and officials who work so hard to help these kids."
Edwin Moses and Layne Beachley's visit to Sydney follows on from the highly successful 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards held in Abu Dhabi last month. The Awards honour the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of the year and generate support for the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Edwin added: "We had a terrific celebration of sporting achievement in Abu Dhabi. However, the work of the Foundation and of the Academy and the Friends & Ambassadors continues throughout the year at our worldwide programme of Sport for Good projects."