Spanish star Badosa serves up inspiration for young people at Laureus programme ahead of US Open
It has been a privilege spend time here at KCTL, learning more about the work Laureus is doing, using sport to help young people in a city that means so much to me
It has been almost two decades since Paula Badosa last called New York her home, but her connection with the city where she spent her formative years remains as strong as ever.
And as the Spanish star returned to the Big Apple ahead of next week’s US Open at Flushing Meadows, she provided inspiration for the next generation of young people eager to make their mark in their own communities and the wider world.
Badosa was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, until the age of seven, though it was in Spain where her tennis journey really took off following her family’s move to Barcelona. She was delighted to lend a helping hand to Kings County Tennis League (KCTL), a programme supported by Laureus working with children in and around Brooklyn public housing.
Run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, KCTL uses tennis and off-court educational activities to promote youth development; it works with multiple partners to provide support and guidance for students and their families as they work towards securing a better future.
By renovating underused play spaces, creating new courts, providing equipment, and running a wide variety of programs, the organisation removes the physical and financial barriers to playing tennis, cultivating a culture in which each child’s individual qualities are celebrated.
Badosa got to see first-hand the impact of the work being carried out to improve young lives as she spent the day with some of the children involved, passing on tips as part of a coaching clinic, while providing a valuable insight into what it takes to become an elite athlete.
With just days to go before the four-time WTA title winner sets out to achieve her dream of being crowned a major champion, Paula Badosa said: “It has been a privilege spend time here at KCTL, learning more about the work Laureus is doing, using sport to help young people in a city that means so much to me. What I saw here in Brooklyn was proof of the power that sport has to drive change and provide hope for the future.
“Resilience is at the heart of my own journey – first, to becoming a professional tennis player then in overcoming injury and other setbacks to try to achieve my sporting dreams. It is that message of perseverance and determination that I want to pass on to the next generation.”
And as the Spanish star returned to the Big Apple ahead of next week’s US Open at Flushing Meadows, she provided inspiration for the next generation of young people eager to make their mark in their own communities and the wider world.
Badosa was born and raised in Manhattan, New York, until the age of seven, though it was in Spain where her tennis journey really took off following her family’s move to Barcelona. She was delighted to lend a helping hand to Kings County Tennis League (KCTL), a programme supported by Laureus working with children in and around Brooklyn public housing.
Run by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers, KCTL uses tennis and off-court educational activities to promote youth development; it works with multiple partners to provide support and guidance for students and their families as they work towards securing a better future.
By renovating underused play spaces, creating new courts, providing equipment, and running a wide variety of programs, the organisation removes the physical and financial barriers to playing tennis, cultivating a culture in which each child’s individual qualities are celebrated.
Badosa got to see first-hand the impact of the work being carried out to improve young lives as she spent the day with some of the children involved, passing on tips as part of a coaching clinic, while providing a valuable insight into what it takes to become an elite athlete.
With just days to go before the four-time WTA title winner sets out to achieve her dream of being crowned a major champion, Paula Badosa said: “It has been a privilege spend time here at KCTL, learning more about the work Laureus is doing, using sport to help young people in a city that means so much to me. What I saw here in Brooklyn was proof of the power that sport has to drive change and provide hope for the future.
“Resilience is at the heart of my own journey – first, to becoming a professional tennis player then in overcoming injury and other setbacks to try to achieve my sporting dreams. It is that message of perseverance and determination that I want to pass on to the next generation.”
Joe Ceriello, Executive Director, Kings County Tennis League, said: “Meeting world-class athletes like Paula Badosa is connected to KCTL’s mission in sparking the potential of our youth. We cannot thank Laureus enough for its continued support and Paula for her generosity with our kids and the inspiration she has imparted.”
First established in 2010, KCTL has become a vital partner of Laureus Sport for Good New York City, and the wider Sport for Good Cities initiative.
Robert Saltares, Laureus USA’s New York City Program Officer, said: “Sport for Good New York City serves as a collective voice in advocating for the needs of sport-based youth development programs like KCTL at a sector level across New York City. In an often complex and competitive landscape for non-profits, Sport for Good NYC continues to see successes in improving access, funding, and resource sharing.
“Athletes have a great platform to highlight this work and it was awesome to have Paula with us today in Brooklyn, learning about the way KCTL are using sport to help young people in our city reach their full potential, which is what the Laureus mission is all about.”
Promoting collective action and a collaborative approach, each ‘Sport for Good City’ unites local people in diverse sectors within the community; from local authorities, education institutions, youth groups, sports organisations and non-profit organisations.
These groups work to identify local challenges and ensure that people have access to high quality, young person-centred sports programmes that address those issues.
2024 marks the 10th anniversary of Sport for Good Cities. Since its origins in New Orleans, in 2014, the concept has spread around the USA – with New York, Chicago and Atlanta being joined by London, Paris, Delhi and Hong Kong, China.
The approach is founded on a core belief which underpins the mission of Laureus Sport for Good: that local people are best placed to identify and solve the most pressing problems in their own area.
Laureus Sport for Good provides support for more than 260 programmes in over 45 countries, using sport as a key driving force to break down social barriers, helping more than six and a half million young people overcome violence, discrimination and inequality in their daily lives.
