Every year 375 cars built between the 1927 and 1957 travel from Brescia to Rome and back in a three-day regularity race known as the “Mille Miglia”. Initially a performance based, open road race, the Mille Miglia was abolished by Italian government in 1957 after the Spanish F1 driver Alfonso de Portago crashed his Ferrari 335 S killing himself, his co-pilot, and 10 spectators. Today the Mille Miglia is a historical race commemorating the unique and heroic spirit of the competition and is a tribute to the automotive industry of those years. Passionate collectors from all over the world fly to Italy every year to take part in this event, which manages to round up 7 million people along the route in what is a unique and spectacular experience.
Mille Miglia 2010 Laureus Car, Mercedes 300SL "Gullwing"
In 2010 Mercedes Benz Italia and Fondazione Laureus Italia have agreed to use this event to promote Laureus by applying the Laureus Fondazione Italia logos onto two Mercedes Benz 300SL “gullwings” taking part in the race.
Dawn Fraser has a new member of her fan club – me. Having just spent fifteen minutes in the multi-Olympic winner’s company I emerged with a glow and it wasn’t from the Abu Dhabi sunshine. Hearing her stories of amazing sporting achievement and her work on Laureus projects such as the Magic Bus in Mumbai and her own baby, Australia’s Indigenous Sport Programme, certainly brought a smile to my day. Talking of babies, have you heard the one about Morgan Freeman, the baby and the leather jacket? Well Dawn reveals all in the interview which you’ll be able to hear tomorrow by searching for Laureus Podcasts in itunes!
Meanwhile, all the talk in the Emirates Palace has turned towards tonight’s welcome party. Just who’ll be walking the red carpet? I’ll let you know tomorrow as Abu Dhabi and the world of sport gears up for the Laureus World Sports Awards 2011.
We launched a Facebook campaign, the first in our ten year history, entitled – GIVE THE GIFT OF SPORT on sportforgood.org
Backed by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, who feature on the website, including Boris Becker, Sir Bobby Charlton, Marcel Desailly, Tony Hawk and Martina Navratilova, GIVE THE GIFT OF SPORT aims to get people actively involved in Sport for Good, by participating in events, sharing information and donating funds.
The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation helped over 1 Million children over the last 10 Years
Latest update from Martina as the team makes their way towards the summit via the Rongai Route:
DAY TWO: Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Kikelewa Caves (3,600 metres)
Martina and the group on the way to the summit
Hi All,
Day two of the Mount Kilimanjaro climb, and the team and I are enjoying a well deserved rest at camp after an intense day of trekking.
We were woken this morning at 6.30am for breakfast, before departing camp at 8am. Today’s route was quite steep from the outset, but as we crossed the heather moorland, we had the chance to take in breathtaking views of the summit, and with it the realisation of how far we have got to climb!
We can also see that there is LOADS of snow on the summit. We were warned about this, but now we can see the reality. It means it’s going to be very, very cold at the top.
Mount Kilimanjaro
After a break for lunch, the walk became increasingly difficult, as we trekked towards the jagged peaks of Mawezi, Kilimanjaro’s second peak. We were warned that we may start feeling the effects of altitude at this point, as we climb beyond 3,000 metres. The porters are right, most of us are beginning to get out of breath and finding the walking more difficult.
The porters are keeping us going by singing lots. We’re trying to pick up the words to join in, but we don’t have the lung capacity that they do. They are used to the altitude.
Paralympic cyclist Michael Teuber is amazing, he keeps walking past me at a great pace, and he doesn’t stop smiling.
Michael Teuber
After what feels like a long afternoon of walking, eventually the tents at Kikewela caves are spotted in the distance, a relief for all of us after a hard day of trekking!
Martina
The team need all the help they can get to reach their fundraising target, so show your support and sponsor them at www.laureus.com/get-involved/kili
DAY ONE: Monday December 6, 2010
Forest Trek to 2,600m
Forrest Trail Mount Kilimanjaro
Hi All,
Day one of the Mount Kilimanjaro fundraising challenge and the team are all in high spirits after a consistent but gentle first day of climbing. It feels great to be underway, and I am thrilled to be joined by a group of 27 fundraisers, including the British Olympic badminton star Gail Emms and German Paralympian cyclist Michael Teuber. We are all so impressed that Michael is with us. He is a really determined young man.
After an early breakfast this morning, we made our way to the Marangu National Park gate, where we registered for the expedition. The climb began at the village of Nale Moru, just south of the Kenya-Tanzania border. From there, the porters led us on a small path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, before entering a pine forest; it was here that we saw a variety of wildlife, including the Kilimanjaro Colobus monkey.
I was hoping for some great views as we walked, but to be honest the weather so far has not been what we hoped for. It’s been dull and damp and in the distance we have seen thunderstorms and lightning.
The walking today has been fairly easy, we’ve been introduced to ‘pole-pole’ which means ‘slowly, slowly’, to allow our bodies to acclimatise properly, so it has been a gentle day.
We have now all reached the campsite, where we will now refuel with lots of drinks and stock up on carbs before trying to get a good night of sleep and recharge our batteries ahead of the second leg of the challenge early tomorrow morning.
After so many months of planning and expectation I can’t tell you how exciting it is to be on the way at last.
Martina
