THE LAUREUS AWARDS PARTY 2014 : ISTANA BUDAYA TEATHER |
Audrey Tritto with Ilie Năstase, one of the five tennis players in history . |
Audrey Tritto with Michael Johnson four Olympic gold medals |
AUDREY TRITTO WITH MICHELLE MOSES AND TERESA FITTIPALDI |
These words, which have since become famous, conceived of and uttered by Nelson Mandela, are the basis for the Laureus Sport Awards and for the Academy that is behind the organization of this worldwide event. And like an athlete, who trains every day to meet his goals, the Laureus foundation works worldwide, completing projects which try to make that “dream,” that idea of sports, a reality.
Competition and athletic consciousness are one of man’s biggest cultural assets, perhaps the only “physical” instrument possible for uniting with and understanding each other, and making changes. It is precisely for that reason that participating in this event moves me.
Seeing athletes from all over the world gathered together, and the 46 sports legends who comprise the Academy that selects these champions, even now marking them as the legends of the near future, is truly a moment of joy that grows even more beautiful when we realize that this is an example and incentive for millions of people who believe in the value of sports.
This year we were in Malaysia, in Kuala Lumpur, in the heart of the city, with its fantastic double skyscraper. The evening was hosted by Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx, who during the evening revealed his immense capabilities as a great actor (having impersonated Ray Charles in a famous film,) entertainer, singer, musician, who has also appeared in various musical performances.
The Academy honored almost all of the young champions who, in their brief careers, have already reached milestones which until recently were unimaginable: Sebastian Vettel, the youngest worldwide champion in the history of F1, who won 4 championships at just 26 years old, Missy Franklin, the US swimmer who at age 18 became the youngest winner ever, Marc Márquez the worldwide champion of MotoG, the youngest ever, at age 20 and 266 days, the Bayern Monaco soccer team, the first club to simultaneously win the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga and the German Cup. Marie Bochet, age 19, the first handicapped athlete to do a Grand Slam of all five events in a single Worldwide alpine ski competition. Jamie Bestwick, BMX champion, the only athlete in the history of the X Games (extreme sports) that has won eight consecutive golds.
Marie Bochet, age 19, the first handicapped athlete to do a Grand Slam of all five events in a single Worldwide alpine ski competition. Jamie Bestwick, BMX champion, the only athlete in the history of the X Games (extreme sports) that has won eight consecutive golds.
Audrey Tritto with Nacho Figueras professional Polo player and model for Ralph Lauren |
LAUREUS GUEST |
The evening was, to say the least, unforgettable, and the show was an experience worth retelling: there is probably no other place or event in the world in which so many champions of the present and past have been able to meet, and be observed, alongside them, so that they could be admired in their enthusiastic and discreet desire to be among the people, which, even more surprisingly, cast the event in an almost surreal light.The television companies and the media world tend to glorify their feats, as is fair, and to some extent they’re made into superheroes from another planet. In actuality, being able to speak to them and discover what they are actually like, showing us that the great history of sports is ultimately made up of “normal” men and women, makes these athletes even greater and more exceptional.
Audrey Tritto with Christian Karambeu with Éric Cantona: French former internationals footballer French national team
Audrey Tritto with Radek Jelinek ceo of Mercedes Benz Milano |