Kosovare Asllani announced as Laureus Ambassador Yahoo / Inbox

Swedish international striker Kosovare Asllani has become an official Ambassador for Laureus. Kosovare has experienced the positive power of sport throughout her life in football and is passionate about passing those experiences on to the next generation in her new role with Laureus.

Currently playing for CD Tacón, which next season will officially become Real Madrid, Kosovare has previously lined up for Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and has also played in the US, as well as her native Sweden. She was the stand-out player in the Sweden National Football team which won bronze at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, where they beat England in the third place play-off.

Kosovare has committed to supporting Laureus programmes on an ongoing basis, inspiring young people and advocating about the work of Laureus programmes around the world.

“Joining Laureus is a huge honour for me,” said Kosovare. “I experienced Laureus programmes at the Laureus World Sports Awards earlier this month and was inspired by the young people and programme leaders I met. These programmes use sport as the hook, but the work they do is truly changing lives for the better and if I can help in any way, I’ll be more than happy to do so. I am really looking forward to seeing more Laureus programmes in the future.”

The Swedish team’s return from France saw 30,000 fans waiting for them in Gothenburg and as a child of Kosovar immigrants to Sweden, Kosovare is a natural fit for Laureus’ belief that sport can change the world. “I love what Laureus stands for – ‘Sport unites us’. It’s so true. I saw it in the summer when we had such an amazing welcome back in Sweden. Sport brings people together and when we are together, we are stronger.”

Kosovare joins a group of more than 200 current and retired sportsmen and women who give up their time to support Laureus-funded programmes all over the world, using sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage for young people all over the world. Of the 319,000+ children and young people that Laureus Sport for Good and partners reached in 2019 through these programmes, 47% were girls and young women, significantly above global averages for sports-based programmes.

Laureus Sport for Good has raised more than €150m for the Sport for Development sector over the last 20 years. Together with their partners, Laureus Sport for Good has reached and helped change the lives of almost 6 million children and young people since 2000. Laureus Sport for Good currently supports more than 200 programmes in over 40 countries that use the power of sport to transform lives.

The landmark 20^th Anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards took place in Berlin on February 17, 2020. The 2020 Awards celebrated the greatest sporting triumphs of 2019, while also showcasing Laureus Sport for Good’s work for the past two decades in uniting, inspiring and changing the lives of young people around the world. To stay up to date with Laureus activity in our 20^th anniversary year, follow us at @LaureusSport and #SportUnitesUs on social.