Beyond Sport has announced that Barclays Spaces for Sports has extended its partnership with the sport and development initiative into a second year.
Barclays Spaces for Sports will once again play a pivotal role as a Global Partner to Beyond Sport, which includes the Beyond Sport Summit 2010, which takes place in Chicago on September 29-30.
Barclays Spaces for Sports is a community sports programme using sport to revitalise disadvantaged communities and tackle key social issues in countries around the world where Barclays operates.
It was launched in the UK in 2004 and has delivered 200 sustainable sports sites in partnership with the Football Foundation, giving more than half a million people in disadvantaged communities the opportunity to benefit.
Following its success in the UK, the programme was extended globally in 2008, bringing the total commitment by Barclays to more than £37million.
“As a global sport for development programme driving positive social change, our partnership with Beyond Sport is a natural one,” says Kirk Harrison, head of Barclays Spaces for Sports.
“It allows us to share our expertise as a corporate in this field, as well as further extending our contacts and knowledge of the many other individuals and organisations involved in community sport through the Beyond Sport network.”
Nick Keller, founder of Beyond Sport, says: “The support of Barclays Spaces for Sports is a vital component to our success and we’re delighted they are continuing to help us drive forward the movement.
“Barclays has long been a trailblazer in this field and we hope the positive example the organisation is setting can persuade other corporate companies to follow their lead.”
The Beyond Sport Summit is designed to celebrate, promote and drive forward the use of sport as a tool for positive social change.
It brings together those who use sport as a vehicle to create social impact and influencers from the world of business, government and federations whose attitudes and decisions can have substantial impact.
The 2010 event already boasts an impressive line-up of speakers, including Olympic legends Michael Johnson and Ian Thorpe, HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein of Jordan and former South African football captain Lucas Radebe.
The summit will also see the winners of the Beyond Sport Awards 2010 unveiled.
Designed to recognise and reward the best sport and development projects from across the world on an annual basis, the awards incorporate 12 categories covering the entire sporting spectrum of health, social inclusion, corporate and social responsibility, and philanthropy.
In its second year, the awards has attracted entries from more than 400 projects, further extending the significant reach of the global initiative to over 200 countries and territories.
