|
|
|
|
NINE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETES HONORED IN NEW YORK AS CITY RINGS IN THE NEW YEAR (23.12.2004)
sportsfeatures.com
New York, NY (December 22, 2004) – NYC2012, the committee leading New York’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012, announced today that nine of the greatest athletes in the world will be in New York City for New Year’s Eve to be honored by the City of New York and to support New York’s bid for the 2012 Games. The nine athletes, which include soccer great Pelé of Brazil and swimmer Ian Thorpe of Australia, represent all five Olympic continents and they will be feted during the New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square on Friday, December 31.
The evening will have an Olympic theme as New York’s bid for the Games in 2012 is also highlighted with the unveiling of NYC2012’s first ad for the international phase of the bid process at 9:00 PM (EST), as the crowd builds towards the midnight hour. Additionally, NYC2012 flags and other giveaways will be handed out to the crowd in what will be a huge show of support that will showcase the energy and passion for a New York Games.
The exceptional list of athletes to be honored are:
Pelé – Born Edson Arantes Do Nascimiento, he is arguably the greatest football (soccer) player ever in the history of the sport, playing on four World Cup teams for Brazil and scoring a total of 1,280 career goals. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993 and voted Athlete of the Century by the National Olympic Committees in 1999. He is the former ambassador of sports in Brazil and has also done extensive work for children’s causes through UNICEF. In 1974 he came out of retirement to play in the North American Soccer League for the New York Cosmos until 1977, leaving an indelible impression on the American public and making soccer truly popular in the U.S. for the first time.
Ian Thorpe – Selected to carry the Australian flag during the closing ceremonies of the 2000 Games in Sydney, Australia, after winning three gold and two silver medals, Thorpe is perhaps one of the most popular Olympians ever. In 2004, he followed up his Sydney performance with two gold, one silver and one bronze medal in Athens. His mark will not only be felt by his success in the pool, but also in the memories of those who benefit from his generosity. At the end of 2000, he established his own Trust – Ian Thorpe’s Fountain for Youth – with the goal of providing children in need with the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives. He has expressed interest in competing in the Beijing Games in 2008.
Nadia Comaneci – Comaneci, from Romania, scored the first perfect ten in the history of gymnastics in 1976 before a frenzied crowd in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. She went on to become an international media darling with seven more perfect scores during the 1976 Games in Montreal, taking home three gold medals, one silver and one bronze. She followed up her Montreal success by winning two gold medals, two silver and a bronze at the 1980 Games in Moscow. An inspiration to gymnasts who followed in her footsteps, Comaneci is currently a gymnastics coach.
George Weah – Known as ‘Oppong,’ Weah became an icon in Africa through his amazing talent in football (soccer) and his selfless devotion to the welfare of his continent. Attributing his success to the people of Liberia, Weah is the only African ever named FIFA Player of the Year (1995) and European Football Player of the Year (1995), among many other prestigious awards. He was also named African Football Player of the Century in 1998. Because of his role as a UNICEF Ambassador and his commitment to the welfare of his people, Weah is often mentioned as a future candidate to lead Liberia.
Francoise Mbango Etone – Hailing from Cameroon, Mbango Etone has participated in two Olympic Games, Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, in the triple jump, coming away with the gold medal in Athens. In Athens, she produced one of the finest championship series in history, recording five jumps
|
over15 meters, twice hitting the winning distance of 15.30 to reclaim her African triple jump record along with the gold. She has been awarded a scholarship to the prestigious DeKalb International Training Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Gao Min – From China, Min is one of the most dominant divers in the history of the sport. Undefeated in world competition on the 3-meter springboard between 1986 and 1992 (including Olympic Games gold medals both in 1988 in Seoul and 1992 in Barcelona). During those seven years, she was named the Woman’s World Springboard Diver of the Year every year. She also tied the legendary Greg Louganis by receiving the most international awards on one board. These accomplishments made Min one of the most prestigious athletes of her era and a national hero in China. She is currently the head diving coach at the Kinsman Pool in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Felix Sanchez – A New York native from the ethnically-diverse Washington Heights neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, Sanchez is a dual citizen of the Dominican Republic and the U.S. He won the first Olympic gold medal ever for the Dominican Republic at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens in the 400-meter hurdles. He also won the 2000 NCAA 400-meter title while at USC and was named the 2003 USA Track & Field News Athlete of the Year.
Trischa Zorn – A California native, Zorn is the most decorated Paralympian in the history of the Paralympic Games with a remarkable 55 medals in swimming (41 gold, nine silver and four bronze) during a career that has spanned every Paralympic Games since 1980 – seven in total. In 1988, she was nominated as a candidate for Sports Illustrated Woman of the Year. With all her accomplishments, she counts two other honors among her highest achievements – being an Academic All-American all four years at the University of Nebraska and being the first visually impaired athlete to earn a Division I scholarship.
Bart Conner – Conner was a U.S. national team member for three Olympic Games, winning 2 gold medals at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. One of the more popular male gymnasts in the history of the U.S., Conner also starred on the collegiate level at the University of Oklahoma, winning the individual NCAA all-around title in 1978, as well as helping the school win the team championship that year. He retired after the 1984 Games to become a television commentator and to open his own gymnastics academy in Norman, Oklahoma.
“It is an extraordinary honor to have these athletes from the five continents symbolized by the Olympic rings join us in this festive celebration as we look forward to a healthy and happy New Year,” said Daniel L. Doctoroff, New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding and Founder of NYC2012. “Their determination and spectacular accomplishments are an inspiration to us all. From all corners of the world, they have come to join us at ‘the Crossroads of the World,’ New York’s Times Square, to celebrate the past year, which included the spectacular Games in Athens, and look forward with great anticipation to the coming year as we celebrate sport and humanity.”
The competitors being honored represent the more than 100 international athletes, Olympians and Paralympians from around the world who support New York’s bid.
Athletes will partake in several media opportunities on Thursday, December 30th and Friday, December 31:
Thursday, December 30 (all times Eastern Standard Time)
Noon: Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball Test with international athletes at 1 Times Square
Friday, December 31
5:58 PM: Raising and Lighting Ceremony for Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball with international athletes at 1 Times Square.
8:50 PM: Ceremony on Time Square’s main stage to honor international athletes followed by the world premiere of NYC2012’s new commercial and countdown to the 9 o’clock hour.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hits: 3975 | Autres
|  |  | Toutes les ( 0 ) Réactions
|
|
|
Pour réagir, vous devez être connecté. Enregistrez vous et connectez vous.
|
Première page
Toute l' actualité
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
