Abu Dhabi: Shaikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Adviser to the National Security Council and President of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC), accepted an honorary Laureus Award on behalf of the emirate in celebration of the UAE capital's successful hosting of the globally-recognised event.
The Laureus World Sports Awards celebrated its 10th anniversary in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and was attended by a wealth of top names from the worlds of sport and film.
Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy and double Olympic gold medallist Edwin Moses, who presented the Award with his fellow Academy members to Shaikh Hazza was full of praise for the emirate.
"The time now comes to hand the Laureus baton from St Petersburg to Abu Dhabi," he said. "There can be few cities in world history, which have developed into such a sport powerhouse, as quickly and successfully as Abu Dhabi.
Major venue
"Reflecting the development of the emirate, Abu Dhabi now hosts some of the world's major sporting events; the Formula One Grand Prix at the stunning Yas Marina Circuit; the FIFA Club World Cup UAE, the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship as well as F1 Powerboating, the Special Olympics, Abu Dhabi International Triathlon and the world-famous Al-Ain Aerobatic Show.
"And who better to receive the award on behalf of Abu Dhabi than the President of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, an organisation which has done so much to bring such a stellar array of sporting events here."
The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 to December 31, 2009, are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar.
The winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, made up of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time.
The names of the winners were announced at a televised ceremony staged at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi which also celebrated the first 10 years in the life of Laureus and was attended by global figures from the world of sport and entertainment.
Star presence
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy present at the event were Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Nadia Comaneci, Kapil Dev, Emerson Fittipaldi, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dawn Fraser, Cathy Freeman, Mika Hakkinen, Tony Hawk, Mike Horn, Kip Keino, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Robby Naish, Alexey Nemov, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Monica Seles, Daley Thompson, Alberto Tomba and Steve Waugh.
Hollywood star Kevin Spacey hosted the glittering ceremony.
Among the other stars present at the packed Emirates Palace auditorium were actors Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Grant, Clive Owen, Kyle MacLachlan and Michelle Rodriguez, singer-songwriter Mika, cricketer Andrew Flintoff, Formula One driver David Coulthard, boxer Amir Khan, Olympic rowing legend Steve Redgrave, and supermodel Jessica Michibata.
The Laureus World Sports Awards was supported by Aabar Investments PJSC.
