POSTED: Wednesday February 24th 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SPRINGBOK STARS AND NATALIE DU TOIT 'DELIGHTED' TO BE NOMINATED FOR 2010 LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says – ‘This is due recognition to the efforts of the players, who put their bodies on the line for their country’
• Paralympic swimming heroine Natalie short-listed for Laureus Disability Award
• Laureus World Sports Awards to be held in Abu Dhabi on March 10
CAPE TOWN, February 24, 2010 - Rugby World Champions South Africa and courageous disabled swimmer Natalie du Toit have expressed their delight at being nominated for the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards.
The Springboks were named International Rugby Board Team of the Year in 2009, and they have now been short-listed for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award, while Natalie du Toit, who is breaking down the barriers between disabled and able-bodied sport, is nominated for Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 - December 31, 2009, are recognised as the premier honours on the international sporting calendar. The winners, as voted by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time, will be unveiled during a televised Awards Ceremony staged in Abu Dhabi on March 10, 2010.
Speaking at a special Laureus Nominations event in Cape Town, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said: “It is fantastic for the Springboks to be nominated for the second time in three years. This is due recognition to the efforts of many people, most importantly the players, who have embraced excellence and who are prepared to put their bodies on the line for their country and their fellow South Africans." Also present were Springbok star players Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.
The year began for the Springboks with a closely-fought 2-1 series win over the British and Irish Lions, which they followed with a convincing win in the Tri Nations Series, beating the All Blacks twice and losing only to Australia in Brisbane. Those performances took them to No 1 in the IRB rankings. South Africa will be bidding for a Laureus double after receiving the 2008 Laureus Team Award following their Rugby World Cup win in France in 2007.
Springbok captain John Smit, who was not able to be at the event, said: “The Laureus Nomination confirms that the Springboks have been able to take their game up a level since winning the World Cup in 2007. This continued success hinges on the vision of the coaching staff who have met the challenge of inheriting the World Champions, as well as the players, old and new, who have dedicated themselves to ensuring that the Springboks will consistently be a force to be reckoned with."
Natalie Du Toit made history in Beijing in 2008 when she became the first amputee ever to qualify for the Olympics, where she finished 16th in the 10km open water swim. She is one of only two athletes to have competed in both the Olympic Games AND the Paralympic Games. In the Paralympics, she became the toast of South Africa after winning five gold medals.
In 2009, she kept up her remarkable performances and continued to dominate able-bodied and disabled swimming in South Africa. She also managed to break her goal in swimming, winning the 10km FINA women’s swim in under 1hr 57mins in Dubai. In December she was presented with the order of ‘Ikhamanga In Gold’, by President Zuma, the highest honour any South African athlete can receive. Natalie has previously been nominated for the Laureus Disability Award in 2004. She is also a member of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme.
Natalie said: “As a friend of Laureus I am honoured to have been nominated for this year’s disability award. Sport in Africa gives an opportunity for the underprivileged to rise above their means and I am pleased that FIFA has recognised South Africa on behalf of Africa to host the 2010 Soccer World Cup and we hope that both the Springboks and myself will be able to fly our flag high in Abu Dhabi.”
Laureus World Sports Academy Member and rugby legend Morné du Plessis, who was manager of the Springboks when they won the Rugby World Cup in 1995, said: “I am delighted that the team has been nominated again. They had a terrific first part of the year and thoroughly deserve their Nomination. And what can you say about Natalie du Toit. She has done almost more than anyone to bridge the gulf between able-bodied and disabled sport and her performance in Beijing was historic. She also does great work for charity in South Africa.”
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)
For more detailed biographies of Nominees go to www.laureus.com/Awards/2010/Nominees
For further information please contact:
Lauren Fourie
Laureus Global Communications
Tel: +2772 504 6448
Fax: +44 (0)20 7514 2837
Email: laurenyfourie@gmail.com
Photo Archive: www.laureusarchive.com
Website: www.laureus.com
For photos of Laureus events please visit www.laureusarchive.com
NB: Information correct at time of going to press
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Patron of Laureus is Nelson Mandela. At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000, President Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair.” This has become the philosophy of Laureus; the driving force behind its work.
Laureus is a universal movement that celebrates the power of sport to bring people together as a force for good. Laureus is composed of three core elements - the Laureus World Sports Academy, the Laureus World Sports Awards and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation - which collectively celebrate sporting excellence and harness the power of sport to promote social change.
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy are: Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Severiano Ballesteros, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Bobby Charlton, Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci, Yaping Deng, Marcel Desailly, Kapil Dev, David Douillet, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman, Tanni Grey-Thompson, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Mika Häkkinen, Tony Hawk, Mike Horn, Miguel Indurain, Michael Johnson, Kip Keino, Franz Klammer, Dan Marino, John McEnroe, Edwin Moses (Chairman), Nawal El Moutawakel, Robby Naish, Ilie Nastase, Martina Navratilova, Alexey Nemov, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Vivian Richards, Monica Seles, Mark Spitz, Daley Thompson, Alberto Tomba, Steve Waugh and Katarina Witt.
The Laureus Academy members volunteer their services as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was set up to promote the use of sport as a tool for social change. The Foundation addresses social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives. Since its inception Laureus has raised €20 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of more than one million young people. The Foundation addresses issues in particular involving, but not limited to, young people impacted by social exclusion, gun and gang violence, discrimination, community integration, peace and reconciliation, and education. The Academy is supported in its work by the members of the Laureus Friends & Ambassadors programme, a select group of current and retired sportsmen and sportswomen who have achieved sporting greatness, plus non-sporting personalities who have made significant contributions to the sporting community during their careers.
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. The Awards are presented at an annual Awards Ceremony, attended by global figures from sport and entertainment, which is broadcast to 100 countries and territories.
Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation which supports over 70 community sports projects around the world.
There is a two-part voting process to find the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards. Firstly, a Selection Panel of the world’s leading sports editors, writers and broadcasters have been voting to create a shortlist of six nominations in five categories - Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year and Laureus World Comeback of the Year. The nominations for two additional categories - the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year and the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability are produced by Specialist Panels. The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy then vote by secret ballot to select the Award winners in all seven categories.
Laureus was founded by its Patrons Richemont and Daimler and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz, IWC Schaffhausen and Vodafone.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz, the world’s oldest automaker, can look back on a unique tradition. It is the most valuable automotive premium brand which stands for quality, safety, comfort, fascinating design and sustainable mobility. Mercedes-Benz enjoys an excellent reputation, particularly in the area of safety technology. Many pioneering technical innovations that are standard automotive features today were first seen in a Mercedes-Benz car. The Mercedes-Benz engineers will in future consistently reinvent the automobile - with the same enthusiasm and innovation like Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz in 1886. Mercedes-Benz is a Global Partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Since the beginning of the Foundations’ operations in 2000, Mercedes-Benz has shared and supported the goals and values of this worldwide charity programme where sports play the core role in the fight against social issues - Laureus has become a vital element of the corporate social responsibility programme of Mercedes-Benz.
IWC Schaffhausen
For more than 140 years, IWC Schaffhausen has been producing precision products of complex functionality and outstanding user-friendliness for watch connoisseurs who expect more from their watch than an accurate display. Since its foundation in 1868, the International Watch Company has built up a reputation as a long-established Swiss watchmaking firm with a passion for inventions, innovative solutions and technical refinements. Today the brand is more successful than at any time in its history. IWC uses this strength in a programme of corporate social responsibility initiatives at home and abroad. In 2005, IWC entered into a long-term commitment to become a Global Partner of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
Vodafone
Vodafone, the world's leading international mobile communications group, with approximately 333 million proportionate customers, as at 31 December 2009, and equity interests in 31 countries across five continents and a further 40 partner networks worldwide, is supporting Laureus as a new Global Partner, with a five year agreement which began in 2008 and concludes in 2012. Vodafone is a long-standing supporter of sport sponsorship and is pleased to be part of an organisation that celebrates sporting excellence both at a grass roots level through the humanitarian work worldwide of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and at elite level through the annual Laureus World Sports Awards, which honours the achievements of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen.
Aabar Investments PJSC
Aabar is an investment company headquartered in Abu Dhabi. Its largest stakeholder is the International Petroleum Investment Company, which in turn is wholly owned by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Aabar is supporting Laureus as the Host Partner for the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards. Aabar is honoured to be given the chance to be part of the event and to bring it to Abu Dhabi. Aabar is looking forward to developing its relationship with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and introducing opportunities and projects to the region.
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Keywords · Laureus · Springboks · Natalie du Toit
Name: Lauren Fourie
Organization: Laureus Global Communications
Email:
Phone: +2772 504 6448
URL: www.laureus.com
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