IWC Schaffhausen to Establish the Laureus Foundation in Switzerland

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen announced that they would be establishing the Laureus Foundation in Switzerland to honour the very best sportsmen and women from all over the world through the Laureus World Sports Awards and simultaneously support underprivileged young people in every corner of the globe with the help of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

Commenting on the Laureus initiative, Nelson Mandela remarked: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair."

Laureus has devoted itself entirely to sport since its establishment in 1999 by DaimlerChrysler and Richemont.

"The Laureus World Sports Academy is a truly outstanding body of internationally respected and successful sportsmen and women comprising 42 sportsmen and women who between them account for 100 Olympic medals, over 50 of them gold, 100 world championship titles and 200 world records," said IWC Brand Manager, Gianfranco D'Attis.

He noted that the Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy is former double Olympic 400 metres hurdles champion Edwin Moses (USA), who is supported by his deputies, athlete Nawal el Moutawakel (Morocco) and three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker (Germany).

"Laureus thinks globally but acts locally by supporting projects that are tailored precisely to the needs of the children in question," Mr. D'Attis remarked.

This functions very well because the international Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is supported by several Laureus Sport for Good Foundations at national levels as well as numerous prominent sporting personalities.

National Sport for Good Foundations currently exist in the USA, South Africa and Argentina. In Europe, there are currently three national foundations: one in Germany, one in France and one in Italy. About 40 projects all over the world are working to provide disadvantaged children with social improvement, solidarity and improved prospects for the future through the strength of sport.

The potential behind the concept is best illustrated by the fact that more national foundations are currently being set up, in Spain and in Switzerland. IWC Schaffhausen will be responsible for establishing the Laureus Foundation in Switzerland.

The Foundation's second pillar is the Laureus World Sports Academy. This consists of 40 sporting legends that act as ambassadors for the projects and, at the same time, function as the jury and prize-givers for the annual Laureus World Sports Awards.

Prominent sports personalities who are ambassadors of Laureus Foundation include: Severiano Ballesteros, Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Ian Botham, Sergey Bubka, Bobby Charlton, Sebastian Coe, Nadia Comaneci, Kapil Dev, Michael Johnson, Michael Jordan, John McEnroe, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Ilie Nastase, Martina Navratilova, Jack Nicklaus, Pele, Vivian Richards, Daley Thompson and Yasuhiro Yamashita to name a few.

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Ajay Rajguru, BIZ COM India, +91 (022) 2647 8817 info@bizcom.ae

Source: International Watch Company (IWC) (Business Wire India)

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