KEATING AND PENDLETON JOIN STARS OF SPORT AND TV TO WATCH LAUREUS KING POWER POLO CUP

• Guests at HPC, The London Polo Club include Ronan Keating, Victoria Pendleton, Kimberly Wyatt, Edwin Moses, Daley Thompson and Rosie Fortescue
• Leading polo players David Stirling, Facundo Pieres, Gonzalo Pieres and Eduardo Heguy participate in Laureus King Power Polo Cup
• Funds raised go to Laureus Sport for Good Foundation in Argentina
• Exclusive images from the event available at www.laureusarchive.com

LONDON, June 18, 2015 – A host of celebrity figures from the world of sport, music and TV have enjoyed the 11th Laureus King Power Polo Cup, while raising funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Hugely popular recording artist, singer-songwriter and musician Ronan Keating was joined by former track cycling world and Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton, former Pussycat Dolls band member and current Got To Dance judge Kimberly Wyatt and a host of celebrity guests including star of TV show Made in Chelsea Rosie Fortescue.

Also cheering the polo stars on from the terrace at HPC, The London Polo Club were Laureus Academy Members and legends of the sporting world, double Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist Edwin Moses, Argentina’s greatest ever rugby player Hugo Porta and double Olympic decathlon champion Daley Thompson.

Speaking at the Laureus King Power Polo Cup, Ronan Keating, who was there with his fiancée Storm Uechtritz, said: “It was a privilege to attend the Laureus King Power Polo Cup. Both Storm and I love the sport and it’s great to be part of such a special and enjoyable day where money is being raised for such a worthy cause as the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. It’s great knowing that we are making a really meaningful contribution which will help deprived young people and that makes it all the more worthwhile.”

A handful of the world’s leading polo players competed for team sponsored by AMG, the performance brand of Mercedes-Benz, against a team representing the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. Representing Mercedes-AMG were Rommy Gianni, Eduardo Heguy, David “Pelon” Stirling and James Beh. Representing the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation were Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha, Talapichet “Ton” Srivaddhanaprabha, Gonzalo Pieres and Facundo Pieres. Mercedes-AMG came out on top in an exciting encounter which ended 2.5 goals to 2.

During the event, a host of luxurious items and experiences were auctioned off, including an IWC Ingenieur Automatic Edition ‘Laureus Sport for Good’ watch, a ten-night stay on Denis Island in Seychelles and a unique AMG Advanced Driving experience. Over €100,000 was also raised for the Fundación Laureus Argentina, which will be fed back into a host of Argentinian-based projects which are focused on using the power of sport to influence social change among young people.

Laureus Academy Member Hugo Porta, Chairman of the Fundación Laureus Argentina, commented: “This is a really important event for our Foundation, we’re lucky that the best polo players are very kind to us and it’s great to see so many people from the world of sport and entertainment here enjoying the event and supporting the work of the Foundation in Argentina.”

King Power’s Polo Manager, Pete McCormack, said: “King Power are very much looking forward to starting their partnership with Laureus and supporting the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.”

During the event, as well as a cuisine served up in the style of a traditional Argentine Asado, guests enjoyed a pop-up bar from famous Mayfair private members club Annabel’s hosted by Pernod Ricard.

The Fundación Laureus Argentina, based in Buenos Aires, supports seven projects: Asociación Civil Mostrando Caminos; Club Deportivo Barracas (Mi Club Nuestro Lugar); Programa A Ganar; Fundacion El Desafio (Deporte Por La Vida); Proyecto Fatima (Fundación CUBA); Virreyes Hockey and Granja Andar.

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.

Also in attendance at the Laureus King Power Polo Cup was; Eddie Jordan, Mark Blundell and Gary Paffett from the world of motor racing, TV and radio presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford, London Irish Rugby Player Shane Geraghty, TV sports Presenters Hayley Mcqueen and Bianca Westwood and socialites Roxie Nafousi, Tara Ferry, Violet Manners, Tarka Russell, Blaise Patrick, Jade Ewen and Chloe Green.

For more information about the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, please visit http://www.laureus.com/

For further information please contact:

Virginie Bernon

International Senior Media & PR Manager

Tel: +44 (0) 207 514 2841    

E mail: publicrelations@laureus.com

Media Zone: http://www.laureus.com/Media-zone

Follow us on Twitter @LaureusSport

Video News Release: For further information on the Video News Release please contact: Matt.Dearden@laureus.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

King Power - The King Power Group has been a major supporter of Polo both in Thailand and internationally, having founded the association and sending Thai athletes to compete throughout the world. Vichai’s sons Apichet and Ayavat Srivaddhanaprabha have led the teams, bringing victory and acclaim back home and gaining recognition for Thailand as worthy contenders of the sport.

Mercedes-AMG – Around the world, these three distinctive letters embody automotive high performance, exclusivity and dynamic driving pleasure.  Mercedes-AMG GmbH specializes in unique, high-performance vehicles; its sporty saloons, SUVs, coupés, cabriolets, roadsters and specially built one-off models constitute a product portfolio which meets its customers' every wish. Mercedes-AMG has overall responsibility for developing the design, aerodynamics, interior as well as the powertrain, engine, suspension, brakes and electronics – right up to granting final approval for production of the complete AMG vehicle. Mercedes-AMG GmbH is also in charge of all marketing and sales-related activities for its products. The image of AMG as the successful performance brand of Mercedes-Benz is reflected in its impressive successes in the world of motorsport and its unique vehicles. Today it is a one hundred percent subsidiary of Daimler AG and is the group's technological spearhead in the high-performance car segment. The AMG brand promise of "Driving Performance" stands for state-of-the-art technology and pure driving excitement.  The cooperation agreement concluded between what was then Daimler-Benz AG and AMG in 1990 was  followed in 1993 by the C 36 AMG as the first jointly developed vehicle. The gradual  integration into the Daimler group began in 1999 and was finally completed in 2005.

Pernod Ricard - Enjoy ROYAL SALUTE, PERRIER JOUËT AND ABSOLUT ELYX Responsibly. Pernod Ricard UK is part of Pernod Ricard, co-leader of the global wines and spirits industry. Globally, Pernod Ricard now represents 91 million cases of spirits and 25 million cases of wine, and owns 19 of the world’s top 100 brands. Pernod Ricard UK has identified the following key brands in the UK market: Absolut, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Chivas Regal, G.H. Mumm, Havana Club, Jacob’s Creek, Jameson, Malibu, Martell, Perrier-Jouët and The Glenlivet. Pernod Ricard UK is a member of The Portman Group promoting responsible drinking. Royal Salute is a careful blend of matured malt and grain whiskies – with its youngest blend matured for a minimum of 21 years. Created to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 21 gun salute that honoured her, the brand is steeped in tradition and proud of its royal lineage, but is firmly engaged in the modern world by constantly pushing the art of blending into new, creative and ambitious forms. Royal Salute is deeply involved in polo – the world’s oldest surviving team sport and a game that’s expanding in the modern era. The brand sponsors more than 15 international tournaments from the UK and the USA through Argentina and China to Korea. www.royalsalute.com

Annabel’s - When it was founded in 1963 by the late Mark Birley, Annabel’s was the only one of its kind: a members-only dancing and dining club offering sophisticated entertainment and excellent food in the heart of Mayfair. Over 50 years later, it is still without peer, its décor providing the same timeless combination of comfort, glamour and intimacy, its atmosphere still as unforgettable and celebratory as ever. Service is both indulgent and dramatic – salads are prepared, meats carved and desserts flambéed at the table – and the food, Italian with a twist, is expertly sourced and cooked to perfection. In addition, Annabel’s has a private room that seats 22, with open fire and butler service. For its cosmopolitan membership spanning all age groups, this is a place to entertain and be entertained.

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