IWC Schaffhausen Celebrates Sports and Charity with Laureus

IWC Schaffhausen is much more than a luxury watchmaker. It is a social mover, dedicated to empowering children through the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation.

In February, the Swiss horologer focused on its philanthropy through the Laureus World Sports Awards, which celebrated both prominent athletes (Nico Rosberg, Usain Bolt and Simone Biles to name a few) and Laureus’ charitable projects.

Many VIP guests to the prize ceremony in Monaco, including Boris Becker, Serhij Bubka, Michael Johnson, Mika Häkkinen and Katarina Witt, stepped on the red carpet in trainers in support for the #sneakersforgood campaign. Bearing the celebrities’ signatures, the shoes are to be auctioned to raise funds for Laureus’ numerous youth projects throughout the world.

The event also saw Laureus ambassadors Nico Rosberg, Formula One world champion, the double Olympian champion cyclist Fabian Cancellara and the Ironman World Champion Jan Frodeno, among others, engage in a discussion on Laureus Sports for Good Foundation’s ongoing work with underprivileged youth. To foster awareness, the three athletes took part in a 30-kilometer (close to 20 miles) bike tour from Monaco to Ventimiglia.

Also pedaling for good were extreme cyclist Patrick Seabase, Nadine Rieder, Sofia Wiedenroth and Morgane Such of the AMG Rotwild Mountainbike Racing Team as well as influencers Jessica Kahawaty, IWC new Middle East ambassador, Nel-Olivia Waga and Linda Mutschlechner.

Meanwhile, Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara, Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit and Scottish track cyclist Sir Chris Hoy received their initiation into the Laureus World Sports Academy, which now numbers over 60 sports legends and do-gooders. To mark their welcome, IWC CEO Christoph Grainger-Herr presented each with the novel Da Vinci Chronograph Edition “Laureus Sport for Good Foundation” watch.

The 1,500-limited edition timepieces flaunt a blue dial and a special back engraving of the winning design from the IWC children’s drawing competition “Time Well Spent.” A percentage of the novel Laureus watch sales will flow toward the organization’s activities.

“We are proud to support this foundation,” said Grainger-Herr in a press statement, “it is a cooperation that allows us to bring about lasting changes in the lives of thousands of children and adolescents.”

Established in 1999, Laureus Sports for Good Foundation taps the transformative potential of sports to lift disadvantaged children and teens out of hardships. Throughout the years, the foundation has finances over 150 sports projects in some 35 countries, providing opportunities for boys and girls.

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