Beyond Sport Summit - Cape Town 2011
January 24, 2012
7-8
December 2011 – Deshun was invited to moderate a panel discussion at the Beyond
Sport Summit in Cape Town. The summit brought together some 400 people from
around the world, whose focus is on how sport can play a part in social
development. The summit acts both as an important forum for discussing ideas
and bringing networks together. It also hosts an award ceremony where those
using sport to aid society are honoured.
It was Deshun’s first contact with Beyond Sport, and it left her greatly enthused and motivated by the encounter. In many ways it complements her role as an Ambassador for Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. [For more info on Laureus you can look in the Community section of this site]. Laureus also have an annual award ceremony – the Oscars of Sport, where the most noticeable professional sporting accomplishments of the year are celebrated.
The plenary panel discussion she moderated took place on the summit’s final day. The group were asked to discuss social entrepreneurship in the sphere of sport. On her panel were:
Dr. Max Martin – an academic and founding director of the Impact Economy; he created the first university course on social entrepreneurship in Europe.
Maria Bobenrieth – Executive Director of Women Win, an organization using sport as a strategy to further women’s rights
Tracey Webster – CEO of the Virgin Unite Africa and the Branson Centre of Entrpreneurship.
The 45 minute discussion was very well received by the audience. Feedback was that the panel had met their brief well, and that the time had been effectively utilized. This led into a time where delegates could choose a breakaway discussion in smaller groups.
In the afternoon, Deshun shared a platform with others including rugby player Ashwin Willemse (whose life-story Deshun found very compelling), Natalie Du Toit (a friend of Deshun’s through Laureus and Ali Bacher (former head of SA cricket). Each was asked to give a 10 minute address.
The summit culminated in a Q and A session with Tony Blair, who along with Lord Paddy Ashdown and Archbishop Tutu are notable non-sporting luminaries of Beyond Sport. In the evening a dinner was held for those who presented at the summit. Deshun was invited by Beyond Sport head, Nic Keller, to sit at the main table - with Tony Blair among others.
For more on Beyond Sport, please visit their website at www.beyondsport.org …
For more on Women Win, visit www.womenwin.org
Posted by Charles Bester. Posted In : Events
27 November
2011 – As one of the ambassadors for 1st for Women’s Insurance,
Deshun was once again invited to walk the Sisters with Blisters 4km. She was
unable to persuade her husband to don a pink dress and high heels for the
event, but young Edward at just under 8 months took the route in his pram.
