The stars of the sports world took top honours at the Laureus World Sports Awards, but it was Team Hollywood that hogged the red carpet limelight.
A casual Hugh Grant surprised the waiting media by chatting to journalists — albeit with his usual onscreen sarcasm — but disappointed photographers with a quick, uncomfortable pose as he stepped from a limousine.
And although cricketer Ian Botham, decathlete Daley Thompson, footballer Alan Hansen, athlete Kelly Holmes and F1 driver David Coulthard gave interviews, it was Kyle MacLachlan, Clive Owen, Michelle Rodriguez and Kevin Spacey who were in hot demand at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace on Wednesday.
A stunning Gwyneth Paltrow, with her fashionably late entrance, turned the most heads. A picture of class in a nude, one-shoulder, fully embroidered Elie Saab haute couture gown, the Oscar award-winning actress showed everyone how to work the red carpet with the perfect balance of grace and style.
In a well-practised routine, Paltrow patiently worked her way along the carpet giving all photographers what they had waited five hours in a cramped media pen for. Natural curls and a very modest side plait — which looked as if she could have done it herself — complemented an overall simple but beautiful look.
Owen disappointed by making a quick entrance after being snapped along with Rodriguez, who apologised saying she had to get going as she was presenting the first award of the night.
Luckily tabloid! had caught up with the heartthrob at the welcome dinner the night before at Abu Dhabi's Fairmont Bab Al Bahar. Giving the stars the chance to practise their steps on the red carpet 24 hours before the main event, Owen was more chatty, despite his football team, Liverpool FC, losing to Wigan in the Barclay's Premiership the night before.
"We lost," he said holding his head in hands. "We just didn't win — that was the problem."
The stars made their way along a 500 metre carpet before disappearing into the VIP-only annual awards ceremony in the presidential palace's 1,000-seater auditorium.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt took Sportsman of the Year for the second year running and Serena Williams, currently the world No 1 women's tennis player, won the same category for the women.
Red-carpet chic?
Britain's Jenson Button won Laureus Breakthrough of the Year award and took double recognition as Braun GP Formula Team, the team he drove for in 2009, picked up the Laureus Team of the Year award.
A stunning Holmes posed with no complaints for photographers and their barrage of incessant flashes, while Botham wowed the crowds in a suit rather than shorts.
One sportsman who didn't exactly dress for the occasion was Thompson, who proved that sportsmen really do live in sportswear, no matter what the dress code, showing up in grey adidas tracksuit trousers and matching T-shirt. "Yeah, I do think I'm a little underdressed, aren't I?," joked the legendary sports star looking at other guests in suits and gowns.
"But you can bet your life I'm the most comfortable one here," he added with a wink and smile.
Kevin Spacey
Double Oscar-winner Spacey hosted the awards ceremony. "What Laureus does is enormously important," he said on the red carpet. "It has an effect on hundreds and hundreds of kids throughout the world.
"So we're here to honour what these extraordinary athletes do throughout the year. But it's the other stuff they do which maybe doesn't get quite as much attention that I know is extremely important to them as individuals. I think all of them think they have taken their great fortune and God-given talents and are putting it to use for something which is hugely important for children around the world.
"They can do things that I could only ever dream about being able to do. You're watching some of the clips through rehearsal over the past few days and the astounding achievements that these men and women are able to do in such a wide variety of sports... It's truly inspiring, particularly the people who have disabilities."
Mika
Singer-songwriter Mika surprised everyone in his shirt and tails and was happy to chat about everything from sport stars to his mother. Accompanied by his sister, who was wearing a dress covered in cartoons, he said: "I've been sitting by the pool and spotting all the different athletes who have passed by, it's amazing.
"I'm half Lebanese, and grew up in France and London, so I'll have to choose nearer the time who I'll support for the World Cup.
"I'm a little bit of a glory boy when it comes to sport and the World Cup, because we all want to be supporting the winner. I'm not sure yet — I'm torn between France and England."
On celebrating Mother's Day, he said: "What I can say about Arabic mothers? Well, my mother is Lebanese and she's difficult. Happy Mother's Day!"
Hugh Grant
Grant needs no excuse to take to the fairways, and he was in fine driving form during a special golf tournament held ahead of the awards ceremony.
Grant continued to impress on the red carpet making jokes and entertaining journalists. "I'm going to go nuts, I'm going to let myself down, my country down," he said. "At least I look nice in my cricket outfit. I always think that. I'm bad though — at the game. I'm frightened of the ball.
"I've been to the Oscars, and it's uncannily similar to Hollywood. Except fewer agents, I suppose. Fewer people in sunglasses. The big thing about the Oscars is how many people wear sunglasses and how unattractive that looks on the red carpet.
"Every schoolboy likes a great athlete. Even when you get to my age, 49 — I'm still slightly in awe of people who play sport. I played today with a professional golfer and I slightly had a crush on him just because he was so good.
"George Best was my sporting icon. I made a papier-mâché [model] of him and kept it by my bed and I used to wear his football shirt to bed."
Clive Owen
Said Owen: "It's such a wonderful place. I've only been here for a day, but I just can't believe it. It has completely blown me away and I am so lucky to be here.
"I would love to explore a little more.
"They invited me to present an award and I'm honoured, to be honest. I don't know who will win, but they all deserve to."
Kyle Maclachan
MacLachlan, star of Desperate Housewives and Sex and the City, said: "It's nice for me to be able to rub shoulders with some of these talented athletes, to mix it up with people who really are at the top of their game.
"I wouldn't say I'm an athlete, but I'm athletic and I have a real appreciation for what they do. I'm a massive sports fan so it's wonderful to be here."
Party time
A far cry from the opening night's lavish outdoor setting with burning torches and giant white paper lanterns at every turn, the open air party at Emirates Palace was less modern and more medieval. Centrepieces were made up of at least 10 church candles in glass surrounds and artificial fruit — including dates and apples — upon brightly-coloured satin tablecloths in burnt oranges and purples.
The glasses of bubbly flowed freely as canapés were passed around. The stars lounged on ornate white chairs with coloured cushions matching the tablecloths.
Sporting Oscars
The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards recognises sporting achievement during the period January 1 to December 31, 2009 and are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar.
The winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 46 living legends of sport.
Motivational event
In a speech to open the glittering awards ceremony, Mohammad Ebrahim Mahmoud, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: "We are glad Abu Dhabi has the chance to host this international sports event.
"This capital has hosted a lot of sports events, especially the Formula One Grand Prix and the FIFA Club World Cup. But we would like to go further to achieve more goals in the sports field. This event gives us motivation to work harder in the UAE, and especially in Abu Dhabi."
