The Laureus World Sports Academy is made up of a unique group of 46 of the greatest sporting legends. All have made a huge contribution to promoting sport around the globe for many years. These sporting greats include Franz Beckenbauer, Boris Becker, Michael Johnson, Mika Häkkinen, Martina Navratilova, Mark Spitz, Katarina Witt, and John McEnroe. Athletics legend and two-time Olympic Gold Medallist Edwin Moses is Chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
The Academy is dedicated to promoting participation in sport around the globe and increasing the positive influence that sport has on society. The members of the Academy operate on a voluntary basis for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. They also visit Laureus projects in order to motivate children and young people to participate in sport, and to raise the public profile of Foundation programs.
The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy vote by secret ballot once a year to select the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards – the only global sport award program for all disciplines.
Membership of the Laureus World Sports Academy is granted through an invitation issued by current Academy members. Athletes can only be invited to join the Academy after they have ended their sport careers.
The outstanding achievements of Academy members include 60 Olympic gold medals, 34 tennis Grand Slam titles, 6 soccer World Cups and 5 Tour de France titles.
