Laureus World Sports Award press conference at the Olympiastadion
Many sports legends were on site yesterday during the official Laureus World Sports Award press conference at the Olympiastadion Berlin. Among the stars were Mark Spitz, Dawn Fraser, Emerson Fittipaldi, Marcus Allen, Dr. Edwin Moses and Vitali Klitschko.
After the arrival at the Olympiastadion Berlin, the athletes had lunch in the exclusive VIP areas with view of the stadium interior. Before everyone headed to the press conference, all Laureus Academy Members received the honor to sign the stadium guest book. Dr. Edwin Moses, chairman of the Laureus Academy and double World and Olympic Champion in the 400m hurdles, announced that the Laureus World Sports Award will return to Abu Dhabi on February 7, 2011, after it was held there in 2010 as well. Special guest on the podium for the hour-long press conference was Laureus “Friend and Ambassador” Vitali Klitschko, Heavyweight Champion of the World. He attended in the place of his brother Wladimir and presented the Berlin project “KICK im Boxring” that is funded by the Laureus Foundation.
Among the 80 guests in attendance at the Olympiastadion Berlin were of course the media and many more of sports’ greats such as Kapil Dev, Sean Fitzpatrick, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Franz Klammer, Nawal El Moutawakel, Alexei Nemow, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Daley Thompson and Steve Waugh. They all are currently in Berlin for the Laureus World Sports Academy forum.
The positive atmosphere surrounding the event could not be dampened by the fall weather that was upon the city. Steady rain led to the cancellation of a photo shoot on the marathon plateau of the stadium.
The Laureus World Sports Award ceremony will take place on February 7, 2011 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Usain Bolt, who set new World Records in the 100m and 200m at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics on the blue track at the Olympiastadion Berlin in 2009 was among the winners of the „Oscar des Sports“.
The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sports awards honouring the greatest sportsmen and women across all sports each year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury – the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today.
Double Olympic champion Edwin Moses said: “I am delighted that the Laureus World Sports Awards is to be staged once again in Abu Dhabi. Our visit to the United Arab Emirates last year was unforgettable and produced a most memorable Awards Ceremony. This is an exciting city with a growing reputation in the sporting world and I am very happy that Laureus can be part of that. The welcome we received last year was warm and we look forward to returning to Abu Dhabi to celebrate another memorable year of sport.”
Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which supports almost 80 community sports projects around the world which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people