English

SHANGHAI TO STAGE 2015 LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS AWARDS

Report this content


  • ‘This is the first time the Awards have been held in China and it is an exciting new adventure for us’ – says Laureus Chairman Edwin Moses
  • Mayor Yang Xiong welcomes Laureus World Sports Awards to Shanghai
  • Globally televised Awards Ceremony in Shanghai in 2015 will be attended by many of the world’s greatest sports legends
  • Chen Zhongwei of Host Partner HYX Group says: ‘2015 marks the Chinese Year of the Sheep. In Chinese culture, the sheep symbolizes good luck, which is the best greeting for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards’
  • Pictures of announcement for media use on www.laureusarchive.com
  • For more information go to Laureus Awards website at www.laureus.com or in Chinese at www.laureus.cn


SHANGHAI, June 9, 2014 - The 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, the premier honours event in the international sporting calendar, is to be held in Shanghai, China.

The globally televised Awards Ceremony, attended by many of the living legends of sport, which celebrates the achievements of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of the year, will be supported by textile and wool manufacturer HengYuanXiang Group (HYX), the Host Partner for the event, and the Shanghai Municipal Government.

Proceeds from the Laureus World Sports Awards directly benefit and underpin the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports more than 150 community sports projects in 34 countries, including China. Since its inception, Laureus has raised over €60 million for projects which have improved the lives of millions of young people through the use of sport.

Dr Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, a group of 47 of the greatest living legends of sport, said: “I am delighted that the 2015 Laureus Awards will be held in Shanghai, an exhilarating and vibrant city. I have been to Shanghai many times, including visits with fellow Laureus Academy Members Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci and Michael Johnson, and have always enjoyed its very special atmosphere. This is the first time the Awards have been held in China and this is an exciting new adventure for us.

“Laureus is much more than an Awards Ceremony, as important as that is. As our first Patron Nelson Mandela said ‘Sport has the power to change the world’ and it can change people’s lives for the better. We will be using the 2015 Awards to send that message from Shanghai around China and the world to show how sport can make a difference to the lives of every one of us. Laureus has been working in Shanghai for many years and now that we are working together I know this will give us the chance to expand our work here significantly. I have talked to many of my fellow Laureus Academy Members and they are all excited at the prospect of bringing the Awards to such an amazing city. I would like to thank the HengYuanXiang Group and the Shanghai Government for their support in making this possible.”

Basketball legend Yao Ming, a star with the Houston Rockets in the NBA, was the first ever Chinese winner of a Laureus World Sports Award, when he was honoured with the Laureus Newcomer of the Year Award in 2003. He said: “I have the highest respect for the Laureus World Sports Academy and it was a great honour to win a Laureus Award. I am delighted that the Awards Ceremony will be held in Shanghai. I share with Laureus the belief that sport can help to improve people’s lives, which I try to do through the Yao Ming Foundation which creates schools of hope in China and which, of course, Laureus does through its great work with the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. I very much look forward to being at the Awards next year and personally welcoming the Laureus Academy Members to Shanghai.”

HYX Group General Manager Mr Chen Zhongwei presented his best wishes for the event. He said: “2015 marks the Chinese Year of Sheep. In Chinese culture, the sheep symbolizes good luck, which is the best greeting for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, the first such event in China. As an international metropolis, Shanghai has been known for its ‘Shanghai Style’ across the world. And this debut of Laureus in China should no doubt take advantage of the geographical strength of Shanghai.

“HYX has consistently shown enthusiasm and experience in successfully sponsoring sports events, so that the co-operation between the two parties will be a valuable combination. This is what is called ‘harmony’ in China. We truly believe that this will be the most representative and unforgettable Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony in its history, when all the sports stars and those loving sports will shine in the city together.”

Mr Yang Xiong, Mayor of Shanghai, also welcomed the staging of the event in the city. He said: “The charm of sports lies in its ability to get the best from people and motivate them to be better. We are very delighted that the Awards Ceremony for 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards is going to be held in Shanghai, an enthusiastic sporting city. We will strongly support Laureus to ensure that we hold a successful and wonderful Awards Ceremony and hope that the excellent athletes from around the world and all who come for this great event can have a great time in Shanghai.”

Shanghai, one of China’s most iconic travel destinations and one of the most spectacular cities on Earth, is a perfect location for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards. A popular tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks, such as The Bund, City God Temple and Yu Garden, as well as the dramatic Lujiazui skyline, it is a showcase for the booming economy of China. Shanghai mixes old world charm with a modern and vibrant city, perfectly blending the past and present. Shanghai annually hosts some of the biggest sports events in the world, including the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix and the IAAF Shanghai Diamond League meeting.

Enjoying a long-standing reputation in China, HYX is a leading force in the global textile and garment industry. A woollen product company with a worldwide reputation, in recent years HYX has evolved into a modern enterprise developing its own unique ‘brand and culture’, through brands like ‘HYX’, ‘Fazeya’ and ‘Nanonan’. For many years, HYX has actively focused on sport and been a partner in sports events like football, basketball, gymnastics and marathon. In December 2005, HYX became the first non-sports textile and costume sponsor in the history of the Olympics and three years later became the first partner of the Chinese Olympic Committee, customizing the Olympic kit for Chinese athletes.

The exact date and venue for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony will be announced in due course. The winners of Laureus World Sports Awards are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the 46 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today. 

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, IlieNastase, 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.

This will be the 16th staging of the Laureus World Sports Awards. Among the sporting greats who have previously been named as winners of Laureus Awards over the last 15 years have been Usain Bolt, Sebastian Coe, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Alex Ferguson, Lewis Hamilton, Kelly Holmes, Yao Ming, Rafael Nadal, Pelé, Steve Redgrave, Ronaldo, Michael Schumacher, Kelly Slater, Shaun White, Serena Williams, Liu Xiang and Zinedine Zidane.

Guests who have attended the Awards Ceremony in the past have included His Majesty King Juan Carlos of Spain, HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, David and Victoria Beckham, Sean Connery, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Morgan Freeman, Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey.

Members of the Laureus World Sports Academy volunteer their time to act as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, whose mission 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 such as obesity. Laureus currently supports a project operated by Special Olympics in Shanghai.

Laureus was founded by its Patrons Daimler and Richemont and is supported by its Global Partners Mercedes-Benz and IWC Schaffhausen.

Laureus now features a brand new website, which will be the online home of the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards Shanghai and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, featuring a new design, fully optimised for mobile and tablet, with a dual language capability that lets you switch between English and Chinese at the click of a button. The new-look website is packed with exclusive content, including all the breaking Laureus news, a look back at 15 years of Awards history, videos and interviews from Laureus Foundation project visits and much more.

For further information please contact:
Virginie Bernon
International Senior Media & PR Manager
Tel: +44 (0) 207 514 2841   
E mail: publicrelations@laureus.com
Photo Archive: www.laureusarchive.com
Website: www.laureus.cn or in English at www.laureus.com

Follow us on Weibo: www.weibo.com/laureussportforgood &Twitter @LaureusSport

Tags:

China Laureus Laureus World Sports Awards Shanghai Laureus Awards Laureus World Sports Academy Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony HengYuanXiang Group Shanghai Municipal Government Shanghai Government Host Partner HYX Group ShanghaiGlobally

Media

Media

Quotes

“I am delighted that the 2015 Laureus Awards will be held in Shanghai, an exhilarating and vibrant city. I have been to Shanghai many times, including visits with fellow Laureus Academy Members Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci and Michael Johnson, and have always enjoyed its very special atmosphere. This is the first time the Awards have been held in China and this is an exciting new adventure for us. “Laureus is much more than an Awards Ceremony, as important as that is. As our first Patron Nelson Mandela said ‘Sport has the power to change the world’ and it can change people’s lives for the better. We will be using the 2015 Awards to send that message from Shanghai around China and the world to show how sport can make a difference to the lives of every one of us. Laureus has been working in Shanghai for many years and now that we are working together I know this will give us the chance to expand our work here significantly. I have talked to many of my fellow Laureus Academy Members and they are all excited at the prospect of bringing the Awards to such an amazing city. I would like to thank the HengYuanXiang Group and the Shanghai Government for their support in making this possible.”
Dr Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy
“2015 marks the Chinese Year of Sheep. In Chinese culture, the sheep symbolizes good luck, which is the best greeting for the 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards, the first such event in China. As an international metropolis, Shanghai has been known for its ‘Shanghai Style’ across the world. And this debut of Laureus in China should no doubt take advantage of the geographical strength of Shanghai. “HYX has consistently shown enthusiasm and experience in successfully sponsoring sports events, so that the co-operation between the two parties will be a valuable combination. This is what is called ‘harmony’ in China. We truly believe that this will be the most representative and unforgettable Laureus World Sports Awards Ceremony in its history, when all the sports stars and those loving sports will shine in the city together.”
HYX Group General Manager Mr Chen Zhongwei
“The charm of sports lies in its ability to get the best from people and motivate them to be better. We are very delighted that the Awards Ceremony for 2015 Laureus World Sports Awards is going to be held in Shanghai, an enthusiastic sporting city. We will strongly support Laureus to ensure that we hold a successful and wonderful Awards Ceremony and hope that the excellent athletes from around the world and all who come for this great event can have a great time in Shanghai.”
Mr Yang Xiong, Mayor of Shanghai