While the eyes of the footballing world focus on the European Championships and Copa America, the Laureus Real Heroes campaign is shining a light on football projects improving the lives of young people around the world. From helping young people in the poorest slums of Nairobi towards an education to bringing young people from different countries and cultures together in Germany, the Laureus Real Heroes are making a difference and improving the lives of young people through sport.

Sporty Erdington students had a real spring in their step when an Olympian triple jumper hopped into school. Birmingham-based Nathan Douglas, a two times Olympian and two times European medallist, who hopes to compete at Rio this year, visited Stockland Green School at the end of term. He spent a day working with year 9 as part of the ‘Sky Sports Living for Sport’ project, which aims to boost confidence, change behaviours, increase attainment and improve life skills.

Being a sports fan cost UK adults over £20 billion in the last year, according to new research from Post Office Money Credit Cards. With Euro 2016 kicking off a summer of sport, we are set to become a nation obsessed – with over half of all UK adults classing themselves as sports fans (58 per cent) and almost as many regularly forking out to pursue their hobby (50 per cent).

Birmingham is set to confirm its status as the UK’s home of athletics this month when it hosts two key athletics events on the road to Rio. Both the Birmingham Diamond League yesterday, and the British Championships from 24 to 26 June are organised by British Athletics, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, and both will be held at the city’s Alexander Stadium.

Summer 2016 is an auspicious time for football fans – not only will the 15th UEFA European Championship be taking place from 10 June and until 10 July, but Saturday 30 July sees the 50th anniversary of England's outstanding 1966 World Cup victory. Evan Evans London's largest sightseeing company, which specialises in city tours and out-of-town excursions, has introduced an all NEW Football Stadium & Historic London Pubs tour, which is the perfect celebration of all things football.

An Aston mum has revealed how she’s gone from ‘heffer’ to half-marathon hopeful in just 18 months – losing SIX stone in the process. Shah Begum, aged 37, used to think events like the Great Birmingham Run on Sunday, October 16, which she has just signed up for, were only for super-fit folk. Not being ‘scraped off the road’ was all the paralegal at city centre legal firm Gowling WLG thought she could hope for when she initially agreed to run the Great Birmingham 10k on Sunday May 1.