5 most remarkable highlights during the Laureus Awards 2018

For the last two years February has been a special month for the Principality. This is the time when the Laureus Awards, the most prestigious sports awards ceremony, is held in Monaco. This event acknowledges athletic achievements over the past year. Traditionally the ceremony brings together the most distinguished sportsmen.

This year, the awards ceremony was held on February 27 alongside some other important events. HelloMonaco is happy to share the highlights with you.

Sport for Good Project

Just like Nelson Mandela said at the very first Laureus ceremony in 2000, “sport can change the world”; ever since, this prestigious event hosted by different countries every year, has followed its noble mission – changing the world for the better, putting an end to discrimination, aggression and cruelty. One of its projects is Sport for Good held in unison with the French organization PLAY International. Within the framework of this mission athletes and ambassadors of the World Sports Laureus Academy went to Nice on February 26 to talk to the younger generation. Even a snowfall – a rare phenomenon in the Côte d’Azur capital – did not get in the way of the Brazilian football player Cafu and the New Zealand rugby player Sean Fitzpatrick. They came to play football with children at the Allianz Riviera stadium. Perhaps this meeting inspired the young athletes and will become a starting point in their future sporting career and later achievements!

Laureus #DigitalNight

In this age of information technology, the Laureus organizers did not miss out on the potential for social networks and the Internet to attract world attention to the event. Within the framework of this new Digital Night, the invited speakers dwelt on the e-sports evolution. Anyone could ask them a question via social networks, using a special hashtag. Jerry Newman, with more than 20 years’ experience in the sports industry was among the speakers. He now works in the British Facebook office helping sports organizations make the best of modern information platforms and create a new experience for their audience. The broadcast of this digital-meeting can be viewed on the Laureus Facebook page.

Laureus Sport For Good Run

If you had an opportunity to run shoulder to shoulder with one athlete, who would you choose?

Most of the jogging and walking fans got this chance on February 25 in Monaco. Together with World Class Monaco and Monaco Run, the volunteers could take part in the free race across Larvotto. And the bonus was running alongside such athletes and champions as former Brazilian football player Cafu, repeat Olympic champion Daley Thompson and five-time Olympic winner Nadia Comaneci. This “Olympic” run was held in Monaco the day before the awards ceremony.

Laureus Awards 2018 Winners

After several days of interviews, races and charity projects, the athletes finally got to enjoy the Laureus Awards ceremony in Monte-Carlo Sporting.

The evening was held with a British accent and an English sense of humor. It was presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, famous for his role as “Sherlock Holmes”.

Who was the prize winner this year?

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer received two awards (Athlete of the Year and Return of the Year). This makes 6 Laureus awards for him in total – he currently owns their largest collection.

Serena Williams was recognized as Woman Athlete of the Year. This year the American tennis player gave birth to her first child, this is now a new chapter in her life.

The golfer Sergio Garcia was a sensation. This is the Spaniard’s second Laureus, he received his first one in 2000.

Mercedes AMG Petronas won the “Team of the Year” nomination. “Real Madrid” and the American basketball club “Golden State Warriors” were also competing for the award.

The “Laureus World Action Athlete of the Year” was awarded to the Vendée Globe regatta winner, a Frenchman Armel Le Cléac’h.

The Active Communities Network won the “Laureus Sport for Good Award”. The organization operating in the UK, Ireland and South Africa is helping the younger generation to choose the right path through sports, training and special programs.

In addition, a special award for his sports achievements was given to the Italian Francesco Totti who was 22 years with FC Roma club.

Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award went to the Olympic champion Edwin Moses.

Laureus-Selfies

The evening was crowned by a traditional selfie when all the athletes, alongside Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, went onto the Monte-Carlo Sporting stage.