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In August 2005 Laureus Sport for Good Foundation gave us a generous
grant to fund a sports programme for young people aged 6-26 in
Seenigama and surrounding villages.
The programme, Seenigama Sports, aims to enhance the lives of the
young people in the area through creating opportunities for them to
interact with others from surrounding villages, learning new skills
and gaining confidence in their abilities.
Seenigama Sports has been a huge success, running sports training
sessions and weekly competitions in a variety of sports including
volleyball, softball, cricket, beach football, beach volleyball,
X-country running, swimming, and badminton.
Over the months it has evolved to cover more sports and more
villages, even to the extent of running competitions for the wider
Galle District.
Background
This amazing sponsorship was made possible following the visit of
cricketing legend Ian Botham when he came to Seenigama in April
2005. He was so impressed with the work of the Foundation and the
young people's enthusiasm for sport that he supported their
application for funding.
Since Botham's visit FoG has hosted a visit from Steve Waugh and
Kapil Dev in December 2005, who witnessed the positive impact the
project was having on the young people in the area.
All three cricketing legends are Laureus Academy Members - a
dedicated group of the world's greatest sports men and women
volunteering their time in support of the organisation’s worldwide
projects which promote the use of sport as a tool for social change.
Seenigama Sports
Saumi Mutucumarana manages the Sports Academy. The Seenigama Sports
project is run by by Thushara Mendis and Lachinta Lukshan, who have
a wealth of sports experience and live in Seenigama.
View
more information on Seenigama Sports activities
Visit the Laureus website
"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. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only
despair."
Nelson Mandela, Laureus World Sports Awards, Monaco 2000
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