Two weeks after the Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi, Australian rugby legend Michael Lynagh, the newest member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme, has joined former All Blacks captain and Laureus World Sports Academy Member Sean Fitzpatrick in Hong Kong seeing how the rugby-based Operation Breakthrough project has developed since the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation paricipation in the project started five years ago.
Operation Breakthrough is one of the flagship projects around the world which continues the legacy of Laureus through the work of the Sport for Good Foundation,
Operation Breakthrough is a ground-breaking programme, where, for the first time in Hong Kong, sport is being used as a means of helping to fight crime and juvenile delinquency in low income and immigrant communities. The project addresses at risk youngsters who have either come into contact with the police or who have been identified by schools or social workers. Many are recent immigrants from the mainland and most come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Common problems include dysfunctional families, Triad involvement, substance abuse and petty crime.
Whilst on a private visit to the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens event, Michael Lynagh took the opportunity to meet three young men for whom Operation Breakthrough has made a life-changing difference: Peter Ng, who now works with the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union as a Community Rugby Officer, helping to promote sport in local schools: Tank Lam, who toured with the Hong Kong A team to Taiwan in February; and Andy Leung, who will play for the Hong Kong Under 18 team in the Asian Tournament in Taiwan. The three players were presented with souvenir Laureus Sport for Good caps for the entire squad who are off to play a tournament in Taiwan for the first time next week.
Michael Lynagh, who played 72 times for Australia between 1984 and 1995 and was vice-captain when they won the Rugby World Cup in 1991, said: "I am honoured to be a Laureus Ambassador and it was terrific to be able to meet members of the Laureus project in Hong Kong. Sean told me when I last met him, what a great project this was and suggested that I try to meet some of the kids when I am in Hong Kong. It was an eye-opener for me to spend time with these guys who get so much pleasure from their rugby. And talking to them showed just what a difference sport can make in young people's lives. None of them would be doing what they are today if it hadn't been for Operation Breakthrough and their involvement in rugby."
Sean Fitzpatrick, in Hong Kong on speaking engagements took the opportunity to talk about Laureus Sport for Good projects to corporate guests. Over the weekend Fitzpatrick explained to Michael Lynagh the parallels between the Operation Breakthrough programme in Hong Kong and his experience in the United Kingdom last summer when he took part in the Laureus London-to-Manchester cycle ride with many of his fellow Laureus Academy Members.
The ride finished at No 10 Downing Street where a report, commissioned by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, entitled Breaking the Cycle of Violence, was presented to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The report highlighted the impact that sport-based youth development projects can have on young people who might otherwise find themselves in gangs.
Sean Fitzpatrick said: "You could not fail to be impressed by the similarity between what we were saying in that report and the situation in Hong Kong. In young men like Peter, Tank and Andy you had three living examples of how sport can change people's lives. For me that is one of the greatest benefits of Laureus: as a worldwide foundation you can share experience. You can find similar problems in different countries and share the benefit of common solutions."
Operation Breakthrough operates in partnership with the Hong Kong Police and the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and is led by police and rugby volunteers in partnership with social workers. Sport is used as a medium to build trust between the youngsters and the volunteers, to provide focus, develop discipline, encourage teamwork, teach values and increase confidence and self-esteem. There is little re-offending amongst Operation Breakthrough youngsters and the feedback from the social workers and schools is positive.
The project also offers sports such as boxing, football, contemporary dance, sailing and dragon boat racing, and has established relationships with several corporations who have offered employment opportunities. Over the last 12 months, Operation Breakthrough has become a project under the Social Welfare Department's ‘Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged', and has started a girls' section with Under 16 and Under 19 teams.