- World No 1 and Laureus Ambassador Adolfo Cambiaso joined by Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martin Nero and David Stirling
- Celebrity guests at Guards Polo Club include Sean Fitzpatrick, Eduardo Heguy, Edwin Moses and Lucas di Grassi Funds raised go to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in Argentina
- “I am grateful to everyone who supported this amazing event; the funds we have raised will have an enormous impact” – says Hugo Porta
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM, June 21, 2014
Adolfo Cambiaso, the greatest player in the world, joined other ten-goalers to produce a feast of thrilling polo at the highly successful Laureus Polo Cup which raised substantial funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in Argentina.
Staged at the historic Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park, Laureus Ambassador Adolfo, the No 1 ranked player in the world, was joined by an exceptional group of international stars including Pablo MacDonough, Juan Martin Nero and David Stirling.
Cheering them on was a celebrity audience which included three Laureus World Sports Academy Members - double Olympic 400 metres hurdles gold medallist Edwin Moses, former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick and Hugo Porta, Argentina’s greatest ever rugby player, who is President of the Fundación Laureus Argentina. They were also joined by former Formula One racer Lucas di Grassi, who became a Laureus Ambassador earlier this year.
The event, which is becoming one of the highlights of the English sporting summer, raised more than €100,000 to support the work of Laureus in Argentina.
Adolfo Cambiaso said: “To be able to raise funds to help disadvantaged children in my own country, through the use of sport like this, is an incredible opportunity and I am grateful to everyone who has helped to make this possible – the players, the sponsors, the guests and the spectators. It is a privilege to be an Ambassador for the Laureus Foundation and to be able to take part in events like this which show the amazing power sport has to do good.”
Also present as a spectator was Argentine polo great Eduardo Heguy, also a Laureus Ambassador, who played a key role in creating the event. He said: “To be able to give back to children through sport is an incredible opportunity for someone that has experienced the positive impact which sport can have.”
In a spirited contest, the victors were a team sponsored by AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, who won 5-4 against a team representing Laureus – but the real winners were disadvantaged children all over Argentina, who will benefit from the funds raised.
The teams were: Laureus - 1. Mohammed Al Habtoor, 2. Amr Zedan, 3. Juan Martin Nero, 4. David Stirling. Team AMG - 1. Dato Beh, 2. Joevy Beh, 3. Pablo MacDonough, 4. Adolfo Cambiaso
Hugo Porta, who played 58 times for his country, was the founder of the Fundación Laureus Argentina in 2003. He said: “I am grateful to everyone who supported this amazing event. I cannot overestimate the importance of their contribution to our work with children. The funds that have been raised will have an enormous impact on the projects we operate in Argentina. Thank you.”
And Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, said: “Everyone at Laureus is delighted to be able to support this great day out at Guards Polo Club. It has become one of the highlights of the Laureus year, where we can combine great sport with the opportunity to raise funds for a good cause.”
The Fundación Laureus Argentina, based in Buenos Aires, supports seven projects: Asociación Civil Mostrando Caminos; Unión y Amistad de San Isidro; Club Deportivo Barracas (Mi Club Nuestro Lugar); Programa A Ganar; Club Platense (Dale Pelota a los Libros); Fundacion El Desafio (Deporte Por La Vida) and Virreyes Hockey.
The mission of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives. Laureus supports more than 150 projects worldwide and since its inception in 2000 has raised over €60 million for projects which have improved the lives of millions of young people.
For further information please contact:
Virginie Bernon
International Senior Media & PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 207 514 2841
E mail: publicrelations@laureus.com
Website: www.laureus.com
Follow us on Twitter @LaureusSport
NOTES TO EDITORS:
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 Sport for Good Foundation and the Laureus World Sports Awards - which collectively celebrate sporting excellence and use sport as the means to promote social change.
The first Patron of Laureus was Nelson Mandela. At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000, he 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 create hope where once there was only despair.” This has become the philosophy of Laureus; the driving force behind its work.
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy are: Giacomo Agostini, Marcus Allen, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Bobby Charlton, Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci, Yaping Deng, Marcel Desailly, Kapil Dev, Mick Doohan, 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, Edwin Moses (Chairman), Nawal El Moutawakel, Robby Naish, Ilie Nastase, Martina Navratilova, Alexey Nemov, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Morné du Plessis, Hugo Porta, Steve Redgrave, 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 over €60 million for projects which have helped to improve the lives of millions of young people. The mission of the Laureus Foundation is to use sport as the means to combat some of the world’s toughest social challenges facing young people today such as juvenile crime, gangs, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, social exclusion, landmines awareness and health problems like obesity. The Academy is supported in its work by the members of the Laureus 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 120 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 150 community sports projects around the world. The 2014 Laureus World Sports Awards were held in Kuala Lumpur on March 26.
Laureus was founded by its Patrons Richemont and Daimler and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz and IWC Schaffhausen.
MERCEDES-BENZ:
Mercedes-Benz is the inventor of the automobile – and has been passionately shaping its future since 1886. As pioneers in automotive engineering, it is both our inspiration and responsibility to continue the tradition of the brand with trailblazing technologies and high-quality products. Like no other trademark in the automotive world, Mercedes-Benz appeals to both the hearts and minds of its customers. We give our very best for customers who expect the very best. Since the founding fathers Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, our corporate history has been one of innovation and pioneering achievements. Many technical innovations that are nowadays standard in automobiles first entered the market in a Mercedes-Benz. This is the basis for our claim to leadership in automotive engineering. The brand stands for Modern Luxury, and enjoys an outstanding reputation for quality, safety, comfort, design and comprehensive, sustainable mobility.
IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN:
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has gained an international reputation based on a passion for innovative solutions and technical ingenuity. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of haute horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people and maintains partnerships with organisations dedicated to climate and environmental protection.
www.laureusarchive.com
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