Vodafone Raises Customer Experience to A New Level

(NBA star Dikembe Mutombo who was awarded a Laureus for his charitable work in his native Congo with the Ghanaian delegation to the 2010 Laureus Awards. Ernest Ahiaba, Gideon Sackitey (media relations Vodafone), Richard Arthur and Isaac Osei)

The curtain came down last Wednesday night on the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards, dubbed the Oscars of sports, in Abu Dhabi specifically at the plush Emirates Palace overlooking the Arabian Gulf.

At the gala event were four lucky Vodafone customers – Richard  Arthur from Kumasi, Jacob Nartey from Juapong in the Eastern Region, Isaac Osei from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and Ernest Ahiaba from Ashiaman in the Greater Accra Region-  in the once-in a lifetime gala where they interacted with sporting greats from all over the world.  Present at the gala were Hollywood notables such as film star Kevin Spacey, an Oscar winners for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, popular British film stars Hugh Grant and Clive Owen, double Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, along with American actors Kyle MacLachlan, well known for his role in Desperate Housewives, and Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Trudy Chacon in Avatar and Ana Lucia Cortez in the TV series Lost.

The four who were guests of Laureus and Vodafone were treated to a special time also at theYas Marina Racing Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
In the awards itself, The Laureus World Sportsman went to Usain Bolt of Jamaica while American Tennis Star Serena Williams took the World Sportswoman of the Year.

(Ernest Ahiaba – left- and Richard Arthur all customers of Vodafone Ghana in this once in a life-time picture with the great Fabio Capello, manager of England national team. the smiles say it all. the occasion was the 2010 laureus awards)

Jenson Button took the World Breakthrough of the Year; Brawn GP Formula One Team of the UK took home the World Team of the Year (out of the jaws of favourites Barcelona FC with Natalie Du Toit of south Africa taking the World Sportsperson with Disability Award. Stephanie Gilmore of Australia picked was awarded the World Action Sportsperson of the Year and tennis star Kim Clijsters the World Comeback Award.

Other sports legends present were German soccer great "Der Kaiser", Franz Beckenbauer, Olympic 400m champion Cathy Freeman, tennis legend Boris Becker and former two-time 400m hurdles Olympic champion Edwin Moses, President of the Laureus Sports Academy.

Laureus Academy Member Nawal El Moutawakel received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award for her work for women in sport and the International Olympic Committee. And the Laureus Sport for Good Award went to American basketball legendDikembe Mutombo, for his charitable work in his native Congo.

The 2010 Laureus World Sports Awards, which recognise sporting achievement during the period January 1 – December 31, 2009, are the premier honours on the international sporting calendar. The winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, the ultimate sports jury, made up of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time. The living legends of sport honouring the great athletes of today.