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Hollywood Stars Join Sporting Legends at Laureus |
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Saturday, 17 March 2007 |
 BARCELONA, March 15, 2007 – Barcelona will be the focus of the sporting world next month when the eighth Laureus World Sports Awards, attended by global figures from sport, entertainment and fashion, are staged in the city.
Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, star of films like Million Dollar Baby, Driving Miss Daisy, The Unforgiven and The Shawshank Redemption, and popular stars Eva Longoria and Kyle MacLachlan from US TV show Desperate Housewives will attend the Awards Ceremony, along with Argentinian super model Valeria Mazza and celebrated Spanish flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes.
They will be joining members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique association of 43 of the greatest living sports legends, at the Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, on the evening of Monday, April 2.
Among the early names of Academy and Guests confirmed are:
Giacomo Agostini
Franz Beckenbauer
Boris Becker
Sergey Bubka
Bobby Charlton
Sebastian Coe
Nadia Comaneci
Joaquin Cortes
Yaping Deng
Marcel Desailly
Morné du Plessis
David Douillet
Dawn Fraser
Sean Fitzpatrick
Morgan Freeman
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Tony Hawk
Mike Horn
Kip Keino
Franz Klammer
Eva Longoria
Kyle MacLachlan
Valeria Mazza
Edwin Moses
Nawal El Moutawakel
Robby Naish
Ilie Nastase
Hugo Porta
Monica Seles
Mark Spitz
Daley Thompson
Alberto Tomba
Steve Waugh
Katarina Witt
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which is broadcast to 190 countries and territories, 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 Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today.
The 2006 Awards Ceremony, held in the presence of His Majesty The King of Spain in Barcelona, was attended by global figures from sport, entertainment, business and fashion. Hollywood celebrities Teri Hatcher and Cuba Gooding Jr hosted the Awards Ceremony. Among the winners present in Barcelona in 2006 to receive Laureus Awards were Roger Federer, Janica Kostelic, Renault's Flavio Briatore, Rafael Nadal, Johan Cruyff, Valentino Rossi and Ernst van Dyk.
Barcelona, the capital of Catalonia, is a world-famous destination. Its unique architecture, artistic ambience and celebrated tourist attractions have made it one of the most visited cities in the world.
The Laureus World Sports Awards will be one of the first events to be staged in Barcelona during the ‘Year of Sport' which begins in March 2007 and which celebrates the 15th anniversary of the highly successful Olympic Games which were held in Barcelona in 1992. The main aim is to promote sport as a tool to improve health and social integration and to demonstrate the ability of Barcelona to host major international sports events.
Barcelona combines its passion for sport with its reputation as one of the most sophisticated business cities in Europe. The city offers world-class infrastructure, backed by superb organisational talent. Its unique qualities make Barcelona a natural choice to host the 2007 Laureus World Sports Awards.
The nominees for the 2007 Laureus World Sports Awards are:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
Fernando Alonso (Spain, Motor Racing), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy, Football), Roger Federer (Switzerland, Tennis), Asafa Powell (Jamaica, Athletics), Michael Schumacher (Germany, Motor Racing), Tiger Woods (US, Golf).
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Justine Henin (Belgium, Tennis), Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, Athletics), Carolina Kluft (Sweden, Athletics), Laure Manaudou (France, Swimming), Amélie Mauresmo (France, Tennis), Maria Sharapova (Russia, Tennis).
Laureus World Team of the Year
All Blacks (New Zealand, Rugby), FC Barcelona (Spain, Football), European Ryder Cup Team (Golf), Italian Men's Football Team, Renault (France, Motor Racing), Spanish Basketball Team.
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
Xavier Carter (US, Athletics), Ghanaian Men's Football Team, Lewis Hamilton (UK, Motor Racing), Amélie Mauresmo (France, Tennis), Britta Steffen (Germany, Swimming), Ma Xiaoxu (China, Football).
Laureus World Comeback of the Year
Drew Brees (US, American Football), Ben Curtis (US, Golf), Roy Jones Jr (US, Boxing), Miami Heat (US, Basketball), Serena Williams (US, Tennis), Zinedine Zidane (France, Football).
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability
Martin Braxenthaler (Germany, Mono-skiing), Kurt Fearnley (Australia, Wheelchair Racing), Edith Hunkeler (Switzerland, Wheelchair Racing), Javier Otxoa (Spain, Cycling), Kazem Rajabi Golojeh (Iran, Powerlifting), Esther Vergeer (Netherlands, Wheelchair Tennis).
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year
Aaron Hadlow (UK, Kiteboarding), Travis Pastrana (US, Moto-Cross), Kevin Pritchard (US, Windsurfing), Gisela Pulido (Spain, Kiteboarding), Kelly Slater (US, Surfing), Hannah Teter (US, Snowboarding), Shaun White (US, Snowboarding.Skateboarding). |
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