The Laureus Sport for Good Award is an award honouring the achievements of those who have demonstrated "tremendous contribution to sport or to society through sport". It was first awarded in 2000 as one of the inaugural awards presented during the Laureus World Sports Awards. The awards are presented by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, a global organisation involved in more than 150 charity projects supporting 500,000 young people. The first ceremony was held on 25 May 2000 in Monte Carlo, at which Nelson Mandela gave the keynote speech. The recipient is presented with a Laureus statuette, created by Cartier, at an annual awards ceremony held in various locations around the world. Although the Laureus Awards ceremony is held annually, the Sport for Good Award is not necessarily presented every time; it is one of a number of discretionary awards that can be given by the Laureus World Sports Academy.
The inaugural winner of the Laureus Sport for Good Award in 2000 was American Eunice Kennedy Shriver. The summer camp which she started in her back yard in 1962 became the Special Olympics and she was described by CNN's Emanuella Grinberg as "an advocate for the disenfranchised and a trailblazer for the rights of the disabled". The 2004 award was shared: Kenyan cricket organisation Mathare Youth Sports Association received it along with both the India and Pakistan national cricket teams. , one individual has been honoured posthumously. Peter Blake, the New Zealand yachtsman, was shot dead by pirates on the Amazon River in December 2001. Since its establishment, the award has not been awarded twice, in 2009 and 2013. It has been presented to organisations or individuals from Kenya and the United States on the most occasions, with three awards for each nation. The 2020 recipient of the Laureus Sport for Good Award was South Bronx United, "a project which used football to change the lives of young people and poor communities in New York."
Recipients + Key Indicates posthumous award
+ Laureus Sport for Good Award recipients Year Image Winner Nationality Notes Ref(s) 2000 Founder of Camp Shriver which became the Special Olympics 2001 Former athlete, and two-time Olympic gold medallist who has conducted humanitarian work in Eldoret, Kenya 2002 Yachtsman who was killed on the Amazon River by pirates 2003 Former bodybuilder closely involved with the Special Olympics – his former mother-in-law was founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver 2004 India and Pakistan men's cricket teams After being on the brink of war, India and Pakistan relations improved through the game of cricket. – Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) Using cricket, the MYSA helps combat the widespread disease and drug abuse in Mathare area of Kenya. 2005 – Boxing trainer who spent his lifetime's work running the Holy Family Gym throughout The Troubles 2006 – Founder of the "" project which assists underprivileged children around the world 2007 – Creator of "Fight for Peace" project in Rio de Janeiro 2008 – and Sean Tuohey Co-founders of Peace Players International project 2009 2010 Former NBA player, engaged in charitable work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2011 Former athlete, founder of Beirut Marathon 2012 Raí Former Brazilian footballer, campaigner for social justice 2013 2014 – Magic Bus Mentors and coaches underprivileged children in India 2015 Skateistan Cambodian youth organisation which uses skateboarding as a way of engaging children with education 2016 – Moving the Goalposts Uses football to empower girls in Kilifi, Kenya, while educating them about sex tourism and AIDS/HIV 2017 – Waves for Change Surfing therapy for children from the townships of South Africa 2018 – Active Communities Network Uses sport and cultural activity to promote "community cohesion and tackle youth crime" in London 2019 – Yuwa An "organisation which uses football to empower young girls in rural Jharkhand to overcome violence and child marriage" 2020 – South Bronx United A "project which used football to change the lives of young people and poor communities in New York." 2021 – Kickformore by Kickfair 2024 The Rafa Nadal Foundation The foundation helps disadvantaged children and teenagers, offering them opportunities through sports. 2025 – Kick4LifeThe foundation uses football to reach at-risk children and young people in Lesotho, promoting health, education, life-skills development, gender rights and employability.2026 –Fútbol MásProgrammes to support young people across Latin America, Africa and Europe, fostering resilience, community leadership and social belonging through football.
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