Skateistan wins the Laureus Sport for Good Award

Skateistan is proud to announce that it has won the Laureus Sport for Good Award!

This is a special award presented at the discretion of the Laureus World Sports Academy to an individual who has brought a simple, elemental truth to life: Sport has the power to change the world.

An individual who has used this theme as the inspiration for their work; a person who has made an outstanding contribution to society through the medium of sport over many years and who has made a difference to the lives of young people around the world.

Skateistan works with over 1200 youth every week in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and South Africa, using skateboarding to connect them with educational opportunities. Over 40% are girls. It is believed that due to the work of Skateistan, Afghanistan now has a higher percentage of female skateboarders than any other country in the world.

Skateistan's founder and executive director, Oliver Percovich, was present to receive the Laureus Sport for Good Award at the Grand Theatre in Shanghai.

In accepting the award, Percovich stated, "The Laureus Sport for Good Award is an incredible honour and is recognition of the ground breaking work that the Skateistan team achieves, especially with girls in Afghanistan. With this award, skateboarding and Afghanistan will never be looked at in the same way again."

• Visit the Skateistan website

[This article has been edited by the Operating Team]