ServingUpSeenigamaSports.htm

This month the Foundation of Goodness kicked off an exciting new sports programme - Seenigama Sports; a year long programme covering a variety of sports such as Volleyball, Softball Cricket, Athletics, Swimming, Table Tennis and Netball. Seenigama Sports will be run by project manager Asanka Lakmal, assisted by Thushara Mendis - both have a wealth of sports experience and live in Seenigama. They will organise matches, races, training sessions, competitions and tournaments, all to be run on a regular basis. This unique programme will not only benefit people in Seenigama but also those in the surrounding schools and villages of Kalupe, Pereliya, Thotagamuwa, Telwatta and Nelsanpura. Seenigama Sports would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of the sports organisation Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and its ambassador Ian Botham who visited us earlier this year.

Ian is one of 42 ambassadors for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which has a dedicated team of the world's greatest sportsmen and women volunteering their time in support of the organisation. They support 22 projects worldwide all of which promote the use of sport as a tool for social change and are dedicated to overcoming the social challenges we face in the world. In Seenigama we hope this programme will enhance the lives of the young people, creating opportunities for them to interact with others from surrounding villages, learn new skills and gain confidence in their abilities. For further details on Laureus's great work around the world log on to www.laureus.com.

The Seenigama Sports programme could not have got off to a better start. On Wednesday 14th September Asanka and Thushara organised a nail-biting Open Men's Volleyball competition with six teams from the six villages taking part. It was a scorching hot day and the teams played from 10am until 6pm battling it out on the Foundation's Volleyball court. Lahiru was packed full of players and spectators from all ages supporting their teams. Seenigama got to the semi-final playing a tough match against Kalupe, it was a close call but Kalupe just made it through. However, they were beaten by the excellent Thotogamuwa team in the final. Congratulations to all the teams that took part - the standard of volleyball played was exceptional.

What an incredible start to what will be a busy sports programme. Next week we have an inter-schools Volleyball competition with Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17 boys and girls teams playing for a trophy. 30 teams will be taking part in the competition which is taking place over three days. Watch this space for results! Each month there will be more sports played and the results will be up on the website so you will be able to track your favourite team's progress. Look out for more Volleyball competitions plus athletics and swimming races in October.

"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