Laureus

STEVE REDGRAVE JOINED UP WITH MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL BOTAFOGO
ROWING CLUB IN A COXLESS FOURS ON LAGOA RODRIGO DE FREITAS
Rarely has the haka, an ancestral Maori greeting made
famous by the All Blacks rugby team, been performed
in more unusual surroundings than the courtyard of
Luta Pela Paz, a boxing and martial arts gymnasium in
Complexo da Maré situated far from the bright lights of
downtown Rio.
Luta Pela Paz (Fight for Peace) has proved an
overwhelming success in transforming the lives of
youngsters living in a community blighted by crime,
violence and drug abuse. Sean said: “It has been
wonderful to experience at first hand what is going on
here. What Fight for Peace is doing is tremendous and for
Laureus to be involved in that, in helping to change lives, is
what we’re all about. I’ve been inspired by what I’ve seen.”
And Steve Redgrave, the legendary British rower who won
five gold medals at five successive Olympiads, joined
up with members of the local Botafogo rowing club in a
coxless fours on Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, the lake that
will host the 2016 Olympic rowing.
After being warmly applauded by 50 Botafogo rowers
upon arriving at their clubhouse, Redgrave said: “It is
a marvellous setting, It is very rare that rowing gets to
compete in the middle of a city. Spectators and rowers are
going to love it.”
Two new Laureus Ambassadors were named in Rio de
Janeiro - Spanish national football team manager Vicente
del Bosque and Chinese badminton superstar Lin Dan.
- 2013 RIO DE JANEIRO -
LAUREUS SPORT FOR GOOD FOUNDATION
- 31 -
BADMINTON SUPERSTAR AND NEWLY-APPOINTED LAUREUS
AMBASSADOR LIN DAN AT THE AWARDS