Coaches Across Continents Wins Beyond Sport Award

LONDON -- Coaches across Continents, with the help of Seamus Malin ’62 and Nick Gates ’91, received the Best New Project Award at the prestigious Beyond Sport Awards held in London July 9. Personalities from the world of business, politics and sport made up the room of 500 people including Sir Tony Blair, Desmond Tutu, Sir Michael Parkinson, Ian Thorpe and Michael Johnson.

"It's an amazing honour and we are delighted to become part of the Beyond Sport network", Gates said. "It is a reflection of all the hard work of our boards, our coaches and our partners in the field. The work of Nicolaus Pota in Kigoma allowed us to pilot our first Hat-Trick Initiative in 2008 and this award is in part due to his amazing enthusiasm and dedication to helping his teachers and children. We would like to also thank Beyond Sport for their amazing work in promoting sport for development all around the world and for bringing the business and sports NGO bodies together in one room."

Malin, a U.S. Soccer Hall of Famer, and Gates run Coaches Across Continents, which is an organization that allows experienced soccer coaches to work and assist developing regions using a designed soccer education curriculum. This not-for-profit organization, which was founded in 1990, is designed to develop young people to become modern leaders in their community.

Coaches Across Continents was chosen as part of the Beyond Sport shortlist from more than 265 entries covering more than 80 countries that submitted applications to this year’s awards. Beyond Sport is the global initiative which, through its award program, seeks to unearth, celebrate and support the world’s most inspirational sports projects, people and organizations that drive positive change through sport.