UAE Stars To Attend Laureus World Sports Awards

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Laureus World Sports Awards 2010
 
 
·     Top names from worlds of athletics, cricket, cycling and football confirmed for Abu Dhabi event
·     Local stars to join leading international sports legends in UAE Capital for Laureus Awards Ceremony on March 10
·     Apply for media accreditation on www.laureus.com/accreditation/info
 
 
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, March 8, 2010 - A wealth of the United Arab Emirates’ biggest sports stars and influencers will be in attendance for this month’s Laureus World Sports Awards, to celebrate the country’s top-class sporting credentials, and to support the impressive cache of international sports names, who will be flying in to Abu Dhabi for the televised awards ceremony on March10.
 
Expected to walk the red carpet at Emirates Palace Hotel for the Awards - which recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 - December 31, 2009, and are recognised as the premier honours on the international sporting calendar - will be influential figures from the worlds of athletics, football, equestrianism, snooker, cycling and more.
 
Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktourm, Chairman of the UAE Olympic Committee; will line-up with football hero, Ismail Matar, who led the UAE to Gulf Cup success in 2007; and H.E. Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, President of the UAE Football Association.
 
Equestrian champion, Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, will also join UAE Cycling Federation Chairman, Sheikh Faisal bin Humaid Al Qasimi; President of the UAE Wrestling, Judo & Jiu Juitsu Federation, H.E. Mohammed bin Thaloub Al Darei; and H.E. Mohammed Fadel Al Hamli, Chairman of the Special Olympics UAE. 
 
The UAE’s Olympian swimmer, Obaid Ahmed Obaid Al Jasmi, will join cycling duo, Badr Mirza, who clinched first place in the Mohammed bin Rashid International Cycling Cup 2008; and Khalid Ali Thani, the 2009 UAE National Cycling champion.
 
His Excellency Khadem Al Qubaisi, Chairman, Aabar Investments PJSC, said: “Aabar are delighted to bring the Laureus World Sports Awards to Abu Dhabi in 2010 and to see so many sporting legends in our great city. The Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi this week continues our emirate’s tradition for attracting some of the world’s leading sports events including Formula 1 and the FIFA Club World Cup. We thank the Laureus team for their commitment to Abu Dhabi and look forward to a great show at the Emirates Palace.”
 
Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy and double Olympic gold medallist, added: “To have such strong support from the UAE sporting fraternity is great to see, both locally and throughout the Arab world. The region has made impressive strides to establish itself as a leading sporting destination over the last few decades, and, with the continuing grass roots development of its youth, we hope to see increased future participation from Arab sportsmen and women, both as ambassadors for Laureus and hopefully as winners of the Awards.”
 
Abu Dhabi will be the focus of the sporting world this month when it stages the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards, whose winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today. 
 
A wealth of Laureus World Sports Academy and members of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme are also expected in the emirate, including Mika Häkkinen, the two-time Formula One World Champion; British motor racing legend, David Coulthard; as well as cricket’s Sir Ian Botham OBE, Brian Lara and Kapil Dev.
 
Also present will be Franz Beckenbauer, Tony Hawk, Sir Steve Redgrave, Giacomo Agostini, Nawal El Moutawakel and many more, including many of the Nominees for the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards.
 
The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards will be supported by host partner Aabar Investments PJSC. Abu Dhabi offers a fascinating combination of the old and the new; a blend of Arabian hospitality and mystique where a mixture of culture and tradition come together against a backdrop of the most modern world-class infrastructure. Abu Dhabi is developing a reputation as a leading international sporting venue. The Laureus World Sports Awards is the latest high profile sports event to be staged in Abu Dhabi. Last year Abu Dhabi was chosen to stage football’s FIFA Club World Cup, and the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix and the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship are now highlights of the sporting calendar in the city.
The full list of Nominees for the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards is:
 
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia, Athletics), Usain Bolt (Jamaica, Athletics), Alberto Contador (Spain, Cycling), Roger Federer (Switzerland, Tennis), Lionel Messi (Argentina, Football), Valentino Rossi (Italy, Motor Cycling)
 
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica, Athletics), Federica Pellegrini (Italy, Swimming), Sanya Richards (US, Athletics), Britta Steffen (Germany, Swimming), Lindsey Vonn (US, Skiing), Serena Williams (US, Tennis)
 
Laureus World Team of the Year
FC Barcelona (Spain, Football), Brawn GP Formula One Team (UK), Germany Women’s Football Team,
Los Angeles Lakers (US, Basketball), New York Yankees (US, Baseball), South Africa Rugby Team
 
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
Jenson Button (UK, Motor Racing), Mark Cavendish (UK, Cycling), Tom Daley (UK, Diving), Juan Martin del Potro (Argentina, Tennis), Ji Yai Shin (South Korea, Golf), VFL Wolfsburg (Germany, Football)
 
Laureus World Comeback of the Year
Lance Armstrong (US, Cycling), Kim Clijsters (Belgium, Tennis), Jessica Ennis (UK, Athletics), Brett Favre (US, American Football), Blanka Vlasic (Croatia, Athletics), Tom Watson (US, Golf)
 
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability
Justin Eveson (Australia, Wheelchair Basketball), Kurt Fearnley (Australia, Wheelchair Racing), Gizen Girismen (Turkey, Para-Archery), Shingo Kunieda (Japan, Wheelchair Tennis), Michael Teuber (Germany, Cycling), Natalie du Toit (S.Africa, Swimming)
 
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year
Antoine Albeau (France, Windsurfing), Chris Cole (US, Skateboarding), Mick Fanning (Australia, Surfing),
Stephanie Gilmore (Australia, Surfing), Greg Long (US, Surfing), Danny MacAskill (UK, Trials Bikes)
 
 

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