After three days of hectic interviews, highly competitive golf and racing with the Academy members, a game of football with local children should have been a relaxing way to start the day of the awards – It wasn’t! But then what do you expect when professional sportsmen and women take part, namely Daley Thompson, Butch James, Hugo Porta and Nawal El Moutawakel. Watching the launch of a new Laureus project right here in Abu Dhabi really showcased the work the academy does week in, week out.
Kevin Spacey hosting the 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards in Abu Dhabi
So, after all the build-up, this year’s Laureus World Sports Awards finally came down to just a few precious seconds – the time it takes to open an envelope. Kevin Spacey (and his fantastic impressions) took us through a show containing the most amazing sporting footage of the past year and as if that wasn’t enough action there was one stunt pulled off right here in the theatre you just have to see.
F1 was the big winner on the night with both Jenson Button and the Brawn GP Team scooping awards. Jenson told me that having been to the Laureus World Sports Awards before, it was fantastic to come back and collect one!
Aside from the world of sport, I think this year’s awards will be remembered as the year Hollywood decided to celebrate with their sporting heroes. Double Oscar-winning star Kevin Spacey had plenty of support from Gwyneth Paltrow, Hugh Grant, Clive Owen, Kyle MacLachlan and Michelle Rodriguez. Add to that the perfect backdrop of the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and I think it has to be said that Ten Years of Laureus were really done justice in the Gulf!
