About
Laureus
Laureus’ core concept is simple, brilliant and daunting: to create global awards that recognize the achievements of today’s sporting heroes, and to bring sportspeople together – united in achievement but divided by sporting code. Once that community is brought together, putting to work their reach and support and investment of Laureus’ Founding Patrons and Partners, it creates a powerful message that can help social programmes around the world that use sport as a tool for social change. That message, simply, is Laureus Sport for Good.
“SPORT HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD…”
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation’s goal is to help young people overcome the limitations imposed by challenging social issues including poverty, homelessness, war, violence, drug abuse, discrimination and AIDS. To do this, Laureus has supported and assisted a worldwide programme network of over 200 programmes, in 40 countries, for the past 20 years.
The mission was inspired by the words of Laureus Patron, Nelson Mandela. At the very first Laureus World Sports Awards in Monaco, 2000, Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.”
LAUREUS ANNUAL REVIEW 2022
CHAIRMANS REPORT
Morné du Plessis
Chairman, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA
2022 was an auspicious year for the Laureus Sport for Good SA team: As if the fact that we could once again enjoy face to face engagements with the wider Laureus family, our programmes and communities wasn’t enough cause for celebration, it was also our 20th anniversary.
That’s 20 years of being a thought leader and credible operator in the Sport for Development sector. 20 years of making a tangible difference in the lives of thousands of children, teenagers and young adults. 20 years of working alongside our partners to change the present and future of others through the power of sport.
Read more about how we celebrated 20 Years of Laureus by navigating to the Goodwill Tour and Summit.
Our Ambassadors play a vital role in helping us continue our mission, and it is always a great honour to welcome sporting legends to the Laureus family. 2022 was no different, when Bianca Buitendag, JP Duminy and Saray Khumalo became our newest Ambassadors. They have already made a tremendous mark in their own capacity as passionate advocates for change, and they are huge assets to the Foundation.
We host and are a part of many events throughout the year. They serve as platforms for interaction, knowledge sharing and creating valuable connections. Most importantly, they fuel delegates with a renewed sense of purpose. Please explore this Annual Report for more about these events and their significance.
Our partnership with Mercedes-Benz South Africa continues to thrive, and they continue to walk the talk in how they support us. I extend my heartfelt thanks to them for being a true CSI partner that cares about our work, growth and lasting legacy.
And on the topic of partnerships: We continue to be heartened by how our partners go above and beyond the call of duty to support the Laureus mission. Excellent examples of these are the Mercedes-Benz SA Incubation Hub and Brightrock’s stationery drive. Big or small – every effort is important and we appreciate you.
My gratitude to our Trustees and Ambassadors, as well as our entire management team and extended project teams for their passion, hard work and professionalism. They are the lifeblood of this organisation, and the very essence of Laureus Sport for Good SA. I am proud to serve alongside them.
As we reflect on the learnings and successes of the past 20 years, we also look ahead to the two decades that lie ahead. And while many things may have changed over the past two decades, I believe it is our ability to adapt, remain agile, and continue to use sport to meet the needs of the youth in our charge that will ensure our success in years to come. As long as there are societal challenges, Sport for Development will remain the catalyst for lasting change.
I am excited to see what the future holds.
Global Message
Adam Fraser
Chief Executive – Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
In December 2022, the United Nations passed a resolution formally recognising the power of sport to expand sustainable development and inspire young people around the planet. Passed via consensus of the UN General Assembly, it was tabled in the aftermath of the Secretary-General’s report entitled ‘Sport: Catalyst for a Better, Stronger Recovery’ – to which Laureus Sport for Good was proud to contribute.
The resolution stated that sport has ‘the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviours, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflict.’ To those familiar with the work of Laureus, and the words of President Nelson Mandela at the first Laureus World Sports Awards, the language will seem instantly recognisable. For 22 years, this organisation has worked to deliver against President Mandela’s belief that “sport has the power to change the world”. To see those prescient words echoed by national governments and multilateral bodies more than two decades later is proof of how far this sector has come in that time.
While such global recognition and impetus is welcome, the work of Laureus remains deeply rooted in local communities around the world. In 2022, Laureus made grants to more than 275 community-based organisations in 50 countries and territories – each using their own local expertise to change the lives of young people for the better. Some of the most inspiration, innovative and impactful of them are based in South Africa, and we are proud of the role Laureus South Africa plays in supporting them.
That support would, in turn, be impossible without the support of our partners, donors, and funders – and we thank them all – and without people like you sharing our commitment to these goals. Whether you have been part of this work since President Mandela spoke in 2000, or this report represents your first look at the world of Sport for Development, we are grateful to be teammates. The belief that sport has the power to change the world has truly taken root. Now we must work together to achieve it.
COUNTRY PATRON REPORT
Country Patron Mercedes-Benz South Africa 2022
HARNESSING OUR COLLECTIVE POWER
As the inventor of the automobile, Mercedes-Benz has been moving people and goods all over the world safely, efficiently and with innovative technologies. Our brand has come to stand for more than transportation but also connecting people all over the world.
As Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA), we understand the importance of connecting with our communities and that we can only be successful if we operate responsibly and make a sustainable impact. For MBSA, this means harnessing the expertise of strong partnerships that prioritise social cohesion and realise positive change. This is why we pride ourselves in the partnership we have with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa (LSFG). For over nine years as country patron of the LSFG, we have experienced first-hand what the power of strategic and purpose-driven partnerships can do in driving innovation and leading socio-economic and sustainable development.
Our history with the LSFG is replete with great successes and many milestones. In 2022, MBSA and LSFG placed more strategic emphasis on the need to promote development in the Eastern Cape. The expansion of the Skateistan programme and the pilot of the Incubation Hub, for example, reaffirmed our commitment to play an active role in powering possibilities for young people through sports. Skateistan was launched at AW Barnes Primary School, in East London, and was significant in providing exposure to young people to non-conventional or mainstream sporting codes.
Another success story of 2022 was the launch of the Incubation Hub, which was established out of the need to expand MBSA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) footprint in East London, where our manufacturing facility is based. In partnership with LSFG, MBSA set out to discover new non-profitable organisations (NPOs) to work with the company to create practical and sustainable solutions to improve under-development in the Eastern Cape.
The celebration of the momentous 20 years of the Foundation’s active contribution to transforming the lives of millions of young people is commendable. Our joint ability to achieve positive change is because of the many diverse perspectives and experiences we bring as partners. Through our many developmental interventions in the Eastern Cape, it is our hope to continue to extend these throughout South Africa to bring about sustainable impact through Sport for Development (S4D) in disadvantaged communities.
We look forward to continuing to generate long-term value and sustainable impact, together.
LAUREUS
TRUSTEES
- Morné du Plessis – Chairman
- Bryan Habana
- Desiree Ellis
- Deshun Deysel
- Fred Robertson
- Iain Banner
- Dr Craig Nossel
- Ntambi Ravele
- Selvin Govender
Morné du Plessis
Bryan Habana
DesireeEllis
Deshun Deysel
Fred Robertson
Iain Banner
Dr Craig Nossel
Ntambi Ravele
Selvin Govender
THE LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS ACADEMY
The Laureus World Sports Academy is a unique group of sporting legends, each of whom reached the very highest level of achievement and collectively created many of sport’s most iconic moments.
Academy Members all share a belief in the power of sport to transform the lives of young people around the world, volunteering their time to support the important work of Laureus Sport for Good.
Each year, the Academy Members come together to vote for the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards, and this endorsement from a group of sporting legends make the Awards the most prestigious in global sport.
LAUREUS ACADEMY MEMBERS
Mike Horn
Morné du Plessis
Bryan Habana
Gary Player
LAUREUS AMBASSADORS
Laureus is also privileged to be supported by the Laureus Ambassadors, a group of over 200 current or recently retired sports people who have achieved sporting greatness and made significant contributions to the sporting community.
Ambassadors support the work of the Academy and of our Foundations around the world by giving their time to support Sport for Good programmes.
JP Duminy
Former Proteas Cricketer
"Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement."
- Matt Biondi
Saray Khumalo
Mountaineer and Changemaker
Desiree Ellis
Former Banyana Banyana and current Banyana Banyana Coach
Team Qhubeka NextHash
Cycling Team
"Age is no barrier. It's a limitation you put on your mind."
- Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Babalwa Latsha
Springbok Women's Rugby Player
Dumisani Chauke
Assistant Coach to SA Women's Netball Team
Natalie du Toit
"Set your goals high, and don't stop till you get there."
- Bo Jackson
Jacques Kallis
Cheslin Kolbe
Amanda Dlamini
Former Banyana Banyana Captain
Wayde van Niekerk
"If you fail to prepare, you're prepared to fail."
- Mark Spitz
Maps Maponyane
Jean de Villiers
Dan Nicholl
Lucas Radebe
Former Bafana Bafana Captain
Butch James
Graeme Smith
Schalk Burger
Shaun Pollock
"The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning."
- Pele
Ryk Neethling
"Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you."
- Arnold Palmer
Schalk Brits
Deshun Deysel
"Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it." -
Ted Williams
Ernst van Dyk
Corné Krige
Akani Simbine
Elana Meyer
Grant Lottering
Cameron van der Burgh
"If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it." -
Ronnie Lott
Cecil Afrika
John Robbie
Dean Furman
"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." -
Babe Ruth
Bianca Buitendag
Olympian
Ryan Sandes
I had the privilege of growing up with a father who instilled in me the importance of legacy and being actively involved in the community”
JP Duminy
NEW AMBASSADORS
Bianca
Buitendag
JP Duminy
Saray
Khumalo
LAUREUS
Team
Agresham Shingange
Nikki Ferreira
Zulfah Gierdien-Abrahams
Keuen Roberts
Marlene Coetzee-George
Wendy Qangiyeza
Taahirah Isaacs
Jill Benting
In December 2022, the United Nations passed a resolution formally recognising the power of sport to expand sustainable development and inspire young people around the planet. Passed via consensus of the UN General Assembly, it was tabled in the aftermath of the Secretary-General’s report entitled
‘Sport: Catalyst for a Better, Stronger Recovery’ – to which Laureus Sport for Good was proud to contribute
PROGRAMMES
- Alchemy Sports & Recreation
- Altus Sports
- Amandla
- Bom Combat
- Boys & Girls Clubs of SA
- Children of the Dawn
- Coolplay Trust
- Diski 9Nine
- Egoli Squash
- Fight with Insight
- Goals for Girls
- Grassroot Hope in SA
- Grassroot Soccer
- Great Commission United
- Grootbos Foundation
- Healthnutz
- I AM WATER
- Laureus Youth Empowerment Through Sports
- Living Legends
- Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV)
- Made for More
- PeacePlayers South Africa (PPSA)
- School of Hard Knocks (SoHK)
- Skateistan
- Soweto Canoe Recreation Club (SCARC)
- The Justice Desk
- The Sustainable Institution
- United Through Sport (UTS)
- Waves for Change
- Zip Zap Circus School
- 9Miles Project
Alchemy Sports and Recreation: Multi-Sport
Altus Sports: Multi-Sport
Amandla: Soccer
Bom Combat: Martial Arts
Boys & Girls: Multi-sports
Children of the Dawn: Rope Skipping
Coolplay Trust: Rugby & Netball
Diski 9Nine: Soccer
Egoli Squash: Squash
Fight with Insight: Boxing
Goals for Girls: Soccer
Grassroot Hope in SA: Multi-sport
Grassroot Soccer: Soccer
Great Commission United: Multi-sport
Grootbos Foundation: Multi-sport
Healthnutz: Physical Education
I AM WATER: Snorkelling
Laureus YES: Multi-sport
Living Legends: Physical Education
Lungisisa Indlela Village (LIV): Multi-sport
Made for More: Multi-sport
PeacePlayers SA: Basketball
School of Hard Knocks: Rugby
Skateistan: Skateboarding
Soweto Canoe Recreation Club: Canoeing
The Justice Desk: Martial Arts
The Sustainable Institution: Hiking
United Through Sport: Multi-sport
Waves for Change: Surfing
ZipZap: Circus/Performing Arts
9Miles Project: Surfing
INCUBATION HUB
Incubation Hub
Mercedes Benz SA partnered with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA to develop and pilot an Incubation Hub to promote practical and sustainable solutions to underserved communities in East London. The pilot ran from August to November 2022, and focused on Community Upliftment, Employability, Inclusivity and Diversity and Women Empowerment as pillars of support.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA hosts and is a part of many events throughout the year. Whether these events serve as fundraisers, activations or awareness drivers, they showcase the sustainable difference being made at grassroots level through the power of sport, and are vital platforms for interaction, knowledge sharing and creating valuable connections.
Summit
& Tour
Laureus SA 20th
Celebratory Summit
The Laureus SA Celebratory Summit took place at Sun City, when the extended Laureus SA team – including sponsors, trustees, ambassadors and programme representatives – came together for the first time since 2019 to celebrate 20 Years of Laureus and the difference that sport has made in the lives of countless youngsters across South Africa
It was a privilege to be in the presence of such a powerful network of individuals who dedicate their time and talents to change the world through Sport for Good. Witnessing the delegates share their knowledge, network and engage with likeminded people was truly powerful.
Celebrating 20 years of
Laureus with Goodwill Tour
Celebrating 20 Years of Laureus With Goodwill Tour
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA embarked on a Goodwill Tour to the Eastern Cape in June, which saw the team visiting a number of community programmes along the way, and culminated with the launch of a brand new Skateistan chapter in East London.
The Tour formed part of Laureus SA’s 20 year anniversary celebrations, and was supported by Laureus SA Ambassadors Maps Maponyane, Natalie du Toit, Cecil Afrika and Bianca Buitendag.
Winners
Emma Raducanu
Breakthrough of the Year
Sky Brown
Comeback of the Year
Elaine Thompson-Herah
Sportswoman of the Year
Max Verstappen
Sportsman of the Year
Marcel Hug
Sportsperson with Disability
Robert Lewandowski
Exceptional Achievement
Tom Brady
Laureus World Sports Lifetim
Achievement Award
Italy national football team
Team of the Year
Lost Boyz
Sport for Good Award
Bethany Shriever
Action Sportsperson
Gerald Asamoah
Athlete Advocate of the Year
Laureus World Sports Awards
LaLiga
Golf Day
Spanish football league LaLiga celebrated their 7th anniversary in South Africa, and hosted their first Golf Day in collaboration with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, at the DP World Tour course Firethorn, at Randpark Golf Club.
The event offered delegates various networking opportunities, while Laureus SA was identified as the official beneficiary of all proceeds
Fundraisers
Westin
Charity
Ball
The annual Westin Charity Ball in aid of the Laureus South Africa Sport for Good Foundation recently took place at The Westin Cape Town. Thank you to The Westin Cape Town, event sponsors and service providers, Laureus SA sponsors and everyone who attended and made donations to the Laureus Foundation. Thanks to you, we can continue funding and supporting Sport for Development initiatives across South Africa, and continue making a difference in the lives of the youth through sport.
JP Morgan
Corporate
Challenge
The JP Morgan Corporate Challenge returned to the streets of Johannesburg in March 2022, when employees from some of SA’s largest corporates traded in their formal work wear for a pair of running shoes to take on the challenge at the Wanderers Club in Illovo. This marked the 9th annual partnership with Laureus.
The Challenge serves as a benefit and awareness builder for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and enables the Foundation’s ongoing support of a growing number of community projects.
Golfing for
a cause
Laureus Golf 4 Good Series
Golfing for a Cause
Over the course of 2022, over 300 golfers participated in the popular Golf for Good golf days across the country – taking place at the East London Golf Club, Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club’s East Championship Course, and Pearl Valley Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course respectively.
As always, our Laureus Golf for Good events were generously supported, and collectively raised over R400,000 in the process!
The funds raised at these golf days help us continue our support to the Laureus-funded programmes that play a vital role in uplifting the youth through the power of sport.
Youth Day
Making a Youth Day Difference
Every day is Youth Day at the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, as the team work hard to utilise the power of sport to empower and uplift the youth of South Africa.
Prior to the Laureus team setting off on their whirlwind tour through the Eastern Cape, the team extended their reach with a series of sporting kit donations within Cape Town:
- Boxing: Wynberg
- Masisebenze Youth Project: Nyanga
- St Mary’s primary School: Retreat
- Great Commission United: Heideveld / Woodlands Primary
- Wesley United Football Club: Steenberg
- Horizons Child and Youth Care Facility: Eerste River
- Oasis: Schaapkraal
- I Am Water: Kalk Bay
- Koeberg Primary: Maitland
- Living Legends: Stellenbosch
Events
Women’s
Month
Breakfast
Laureus in partnership with FNB, MRI, Carrol Boyes and Laurium Capital hosted 2 Women’s Month Breakfasts, themed: Being Fearlessly You & Fostering social change through sport.
Our aim was to connect the business and the not-for-profit sector, with emerging young female leaders at Grade 12 level. We hosted our first breakfast at the FNB Offices in Stellenbosch on 1 August 2022 and our second in Johannesburg at The Oaks restaurant.
At both breakfasts we hosted 60 + leading women in business and small contingent of learners associated with programmes funded by Laureus. In Cape Town we featured The Justice Desk and in Johannesburg Goals for Girls. A special word of thanks to Deshun Deysel, who was our keynote speaker at both of these events.
Walking
Proud
collaborating
with Veldskoen”
In celebration of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA’s 20th Anniversary, we wanted to turn our attention to and thank the people who have supported and enabled us in our mission to use sport to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing our youth.
And what better way to do this than by collaborating with Veldskoen shoes, a proudly South African brand that recognises individuals and their own unique, beautiful stories!
Over the course of 2022, our Ambassadors, Trustees and partners have been receiving a special delivery comprising a pair of Laureus SA branded Veldskoen shoes – together with a pair of Plakkie flip-flops – to celebrate and thank them for their valued contribution to the Laureus family.
These Crocs
Don’t Bite
The Sneaker Shack (TSS) turned a hard and hot morning training session at Orlando Dam into the most exciting moment ever when they showered the Soweto Canoe and Recreation Club (SCARC) paddlers with Crocs. This donation is a culmination of months of hard work by the TSS team – collecting, cleaning and packing 42 pairs of donated Crocs.
Pin It On
elegant pin celebrates our Ambassadors”
Carrol Boyes
In 2022, the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation team collaborated with the proudly South African functional art and design brand, Carrol Boyes, to create and produce a special Laureus Sport for Good Foundation pin for our Ambassadors.
This elegant pin celebrates our Ambassadors’ individual achievements and victories, while also affirming the important role they play in harnessing sport as a key driver for empowerment, upliftment and development among South Africa’s youth.
In addition to this, the Carrol Boyes team was also instrumental in creating the trophies that were awarded during the 2022 Laureus Summit, as well as a very special piece handed to Morné du Plessis for his long-standing service.
Cape Town
Cycle Tour
tackling the
world’s largest
timed cycle race
year on year”
Cape Town Cycle Tour
The 2022 Cape Town Cycle Tour race weekend was once again a busy one for the Laureus team.
The 20-strong peloton that was going to participate in the Cycle Tour spent some last-minute time in the saddle with a leg loosening out-and-back ride between The Westin Cape Town and Suikerbossie.
This was followed by a Laureus Breakfast at The Westin where 90 guests were present to listen to a motivational talk by Corné Krige, a panel discussion with newly-appointed Ambassador JP Duminy and the 9Miles crew, as well as a chat with Nic Dlamini who was preparing to take on his debut Cape Epic. Guests included Elana Meyer and Laureus Ambassadors. The event was generously supported by Laureus partner, Mercedes-Benz SA.
BrightRock
Donate
Stationery to
Skateistan
Johannesburg-based skateboarding programme Skateistan ran a back-to-school drive in partnership with Laureus in 2022.
In support of this drive, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation SA partner, BrightRock Insurance, donated a wide range of stationery – incl. books, pens, pencils, erasers, crayons and glue sticks – to the kids at Skateistan, adding a welcome boost to their school year.
In honour of
Baby Jake
Matlala
Remembering Baby Jake
Fight with Insight, supported by JP Morgan, hosted a special event to honour boxing legend and Laureus Ambassador Jacob “Baby Jake” Matlala, on the 9th anniversary of his passing.
A special remembrance plaque was also unveiled at the FWI gym, with Baby Jake’s wife Mapule and their two sons, Tshepo and Lesego in attendance.
YPO
Harnessing the
power of our
greatest leaders
YPO is a global community of extraordinary chief executives who have achieved leadership success at a young age. This inclusive community harnesses the collective power of sharing, learning and trust from a diverse group of leaders who are committed to improve lives, businesses and the world.
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation embarked on a partnership with YPO Greater Cape, in which YPO members had the opportunity to participate in Programme visits and activities with Laureus Ambassadors, while showing them the real-world impact of Laureus-funded programmes at grassroots level.
In return, YPO members made themselves available to serve as industry and business experts when engaging with Laureus-supported leadership programmes like YES.
Ultimately, the vision is to extend this partnership to other South African and African YPO chapters, and link YPO chapters and Laureus teams across the globe.
Shout out
