MacArthur in line for Laureus World Sports Awards nomination

SCHUMACHER, HEWITT, CAPRIATI AND MACARTHUR IN LINE FOR LAUREUS NOMINATIONS IN NEW YORK

Formula One driver Michael Schumacher, tennis players Lleyton Hewitt and Jennifer Capriati and yachtswoman Ellen MacArthur are all strong contenders to be nominated in New York on Tuesday (March 19) for the 2002 Laureus World Sports Awards.

All four athletes have starred on the global sporting stage over the past 12 months and could be among the nominations submitted by a Selection Panel of more than 1,000 sports journalists from 75 countries around the world.

Germany’s Schumacher confirmed his greatness on the track by securing his fourth Formula One world title in eight years during 2001 while Australia’s Hewitt won the U.S. Open last September before ending the year as the youngest men’s world number one in tennis history.

American Capriati won the first two Grand Slam events of 2001 before going on to retain her Australian Open crown this January and Briton MacArthur last year became the youngest competitor ever to finish the Vendée Globe yacht race and only the second person to go round-the-world solo in under 100 days.

Five nominees will be announced in each of seven categories -- including Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and Laureus World Team of the Year -- for the third edition of the Laureus World Sports Awards at a media conference at the New York Athletic Club.

The other categories to feature will be Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Newcomer of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year, Laureus World Alternative Sportsperson of the Year and Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

Nominees will be announced by members of the elite World Sports Academy including Boris Becker, Bobby Charlton, Sebastian Coe, Kapil Dev, Emerson Fittipaldi, Kip Keino, Edwin Moses, Nawal El Moutawakel, Robby Naish, Ilie Nastase, Morne du Plessis, Hugo Porta and Daley Thompson.

Golfer Tiger Woods, another genuine contender for honours in 2002, won the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award in 2000 and 2001 while athletes Marion Jones and Cathy Freeman won the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year award in 2000 and 2001 respectively.

The eventual winners of the 2002 Laureus World Sports Awards, as voted upon by the World Sports Academy, will be unveiled during a television ceremony staged in the regal surrounds of Monaco's Grimaldi Forum, under the High Patronage of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco, on the night of May 14.

The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 1999 by Founding Patrons DaimlerChrysler and Richemont, who are represented through their premier brands Mercedes-Benz and Cartier. The awards honour the achievements of the world's greatest sportsmen and women on an annual basis, and also contribute to social change through the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The Foundation is financed by the Founding Patrons, with Deutsche Bank Private Banking acting as its Trusted Private Bank.

More Information:

• www.laureus.com