Legends from Sport Grace Laureus Awards

St.Petersburg, Russia, will be the focus of the sporting world when it stages the 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards on Monday, February 18, 2008. The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sports awards honouring the greatest sportsmen and women across all sports each year. The winners are selected by the ultimate sports jury - the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, the living legends of sport honouring the greatest athletes of today. The Awards will be presented at a globally televised Awards Ceremony staged in the Mariinsky Concert Hall in St.Petersburg. Among the Laureus World Sports Academy members who have already confirmed their presence are: Giacomo Agostini Marcus Allen Severiano Ballesteros Franz Beckenbauer Boris Becker Sergey Bubka Nadia Comaneci Marcel Desailly Kapil Dev Sean Fitzpatrick Dawn Fraser Tanni Grey-Thompson Marvin Hagler Tony Hawk Mike Horn Miguel Indurain Kip Keino Franz Klammer Edwin Moses Robby Naish Ilie Nastase Morné du Plessis Hugo Porta Mark Spitz Steve Waugh Double Olympic gold medallist Edwin Moses, Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said: “We are very excited at the prospect of staging the Awards in such an amazing city. St.Petersburg is a superb location for the Awards Ceremony and we are delighted to be going there. We have great names in every category. The nominations reflect the immense strength of sport at the moment. We have had some thrilling world championships this year and a host of terrific individual performances. I congratulate all the nominees and now we look forward to what should be a great Awards Ceremony.” The spectacular backdrop of St.Petersburg, one of the most historic cities in the world, with its palaces of the tsars, museums, waterways and historic landmarks, promises to ensure one of the most memorable Laureus Awards Ceremonies ever. Over the years St.Petersburg has hosted many important sports events, including the highly successful 1994 Goodwill Games. Valentina Matvienko, the Governor of St. Petersburg said: "We are delighted that St. Petersburg has been chosen to host the 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards. Sport is close to the hearts of millions of Petersburgers and we look forward to staging this major sport event in our city. St. Petersburg is a city that harmoniously combines historic traditions and modern European values. Active construction of sport facilities and creation of well-developed infrastructure make St. Petersburg the ideal venue for sports events of global significance. I am sure this ceremony will be a night to remember in the city. I am also confident that our partnership with the Laureus World Sports Awards will be enormously successful." The Laureus World Sports Awards is also pleased to announce the support of Vodafone as a new Global Partner. Vodafone is delighted to be associated with this Awards Ceremony which is known as the premier honours event in the international sporting calendar, recognising high profile sportsmen and sportswomen for their outstanding achievements and contribution to sport. This is a five year agreement, concluding in 2012. "Vodafone is a significant and long-standing supporter of sport sponsorship and we are pleased to be part of an event that celebrates sporting excellence both at a grass roots and elite level," commented David Wheldon, Global Brand Director, Vodafone. The full list of nominees for the 2008 Laureus World Sports Awards is: Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Roger Federer (Switzerland, Tennis), Tyson Gay (US, Athletics), Kaka (Brazil, Football), Michael Phelps (US, Swimming), Kimi Raikkonen (Finland, Motor Racing), Tiger Woods (US, Golf) Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Justine Henin (Belgium, Tennis), Yelena Isinbayeva (Russia, Athletics), Carolina Kluft (Sweden, Athletics), Libby Lenton (Australia, Swimming), Marta (Brazil, Football), Lorena Ochoa (Mexico, Golf) Laureus World Team of the Year AC Milan (Italy, Football), Australia Men’s Cricket Team, Ferrari (Italy, Motor Racing), Germany Women’s Football Team, Iraq Football Team, South African Rugby Team Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Alberto Contador (Spain, Cycling), Novak Djokovic (Serbia, Tennis), Tyson Gay (US, Athletics), Lewis Hamilton (UK, Motor Racing), Oscar Pistorius (South Africa, Athletics), Casey Stoner (Australia, Motor Cycling) Laureus World Comeback of the Year Gt.Britain Rugby League Team (UK), Christine Ohuruogu (UK, Athletics), Paula Radcliffe (UK, Athletics), Jana Rawlinson (Australia, Athletics), Steve Stricker (US, Golf), Jonny Wilkinson (UK, Rugby Union) Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Daniel Dias (Brazil, Swimming), Darren Kenny (UK, Cycling), Sarah Storey (UK, Cycling), Michael Teuber (Germany, Cycling), Esther Vergeer (Netherlands, Wheelchair Tennis) Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Daniel Dhers (Venezuela, BMX), Mick Fanning (Australia, Surfing), Stephanie Gilmore (Australia, Surfing), Aaron Hadlow (UK, Kiteboarding), Shaun White (US, Snowboarding/Skateboarding), Ryan Sheckler (US, Skateboarding) The 2007 Awards Ceremony, held in the presence of His Majesty The King of Spain, was attended by global figures from sport, entertainment, business and fashion. In addition to members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, among the guests present were Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman and popular stars Elisha Cuthbert, Cuba Gooding Jr, Eva Longoria, Kyle MacLachlan and Valeria Mazza.