On Saturday, June 22nd, some of the world’s best polo players met at the 2013 Laureus Polo Cup, which took place at the historic Guards Polo Club in Windsor, and competed against each other to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for good Foundation Argentina. The foundation helps disadvantaged children all over Argentina.
Team Mercedes-AMG with Mohammed Al Habtoor, Jonathan Munro Ford, David Stirling and Juan Martin Nero won in an exciting match against the top players Sheikha Maitha Al Maktoum, Shilai Liu, Pablo MacDonough and Adolfo Cambiaso of team IWC Schaffhausen by 5,5 – 4.
Cheering them on was a celebrity audience which included members of the Laureus World Sports Academy: among them was chairman Edwin Moses, tennis legend Boris Becker, England cricket hero Ian Botham and rugby giants Sean Fitzpatrick, the former All Blacks captain, and Hugo Porta, Argentina’s greatest player who is President of the Fundación Laureus Argentina.
Also present as a spectator was polo great Eduardo Heguy, now a Laureus Ambassador, who played a key role in creating the event: “To be able to give back to children through sport is an incredible opportunity for someone that has experienced the positive impact which sport can have. The Laureus Polo Cup is one of the annual fundraising events, which the Fundación Laureus Argentina hosts to generate funds in order to support its growth. The possibility of raising funds in the UK makes a real big difference back home and we have been able to incorporate and expand different projects, which we fund. Also, it gives the polo players a concrete chance to support the charity in an active manner, something which is more difficult back home given the playing schedules.”
Hugo Porta, who was the founder of the Fundación Laureus Argentina in 2003: “Everyone at Windsor has contributed to an important humanitarian cause, this will help to improve the lives of so many young people in my country. I would like to thank all the great polo players who took part and to thank all the individuals and companies who supported us in one way or another. They all share with Laureus the belief that sport can help to improve young people’s lives. You just cannot exaggerate what good the money that has been raised here today will do for the youngsters we are trying to help.”
Sean Fitzpatrick, Vice Chair of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: “Everyone at Laureus is delighted to be able to support this great day out at Windsor. It has become one of the highlights of the Laureus year, where we can combine great sport with the opportunity to raise funds for a good cause. I must compliment Hugo Porta on the passion which he has demonstrated in his work in Argentina which has seen the Foundation there becoming an increasingly important element in the life of the country.”
In addition to sponsoring one of the teams, renowned Swiss watch-maker IWC Schaffhausen donated a special Laureus edition Portofino Chronograph watch in stainless steel, only 2,500 of which are being manufactured, which was auctioned to raise additional funds. An engraving entitled ‘Time to Inspire’ appears on the back of the watch, designed by seven-year-old Kumara Wadu Parami Apsara from Sri Lanka, who attends the Laureus supported Seenigama Sport for Life project. Kumara was born exactly a month before the devastating tsunami in 2004.
The mission of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation is to utilise the power of sport to address social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports related community development initiatives. Laureus supports almost 140 projects worldwide and since its inception in 2000 has raised over 60 million euro for projects which have improved the lives of more than one-and-a-half million young people.
The Fundación Laureus Argentina was founded in May 2003 by Hugo Porta. The headquarters are in Buenos Aires with the Foundation’s work extending to distant Argentine provinces that greatly benefit from its backing. Currently, the Foundation supports six projects: Unión y Amistad de San Isidro, Club Deportivo Barracas, A Ganar, Club Platense, Fundacion El Desafio and Virreyes Hockey.
- 8. June 2023
