ABU DHABI // The former boy band singer Ronan Keating will perform to a star-studded audience at the Emirates Palace on Monday night, it was announced today.
Keating, who rose to fame with the Irish band Boyzone, has sold 20 million records since going solo in 2000. He said he was a big sports fan.
The guest list for the Laureus World Sports Awards is a "who’s who" of professional sports stars of past and present.
On the red carpet will be Sir Bobby Charlton, the captain of England’s 1966 World Cup winning team, and Rafael Nadal, the current world tennis number one. Nadal will be hoping to be named World Sportsman of the Year for a second time.
Up for awards will be the Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel, the Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, the LA Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Barcelona footballers Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi.
Attending the ceremony will be the German footballer Franz Beckenbauer, the skateboarder Tony Hawk, the 10-times world surf champion Kelly Slater and the two-time F1 champion Mika Hakkinen.
The ceremony will be hosted by the double Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey.
“I know what a big night it will be for them, and I also totally empathise with the charity side of Laureus," said Keating. "I’ve tried to do what I can in my life to give something back to society and to help people and I know this is the real driving force behind Laureus through its Sport for Good Foundation. I am delighted to do what I can to help.”
Proceeds from the awards benefit the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which supports almost 80 community sports projects around the world.
eharnan@thenational.ae
Profile of Whizkey
Date founded: 04 November 2017
Founders: Abdulaziz AlBlooshi and Harsh Hirani
Based: Dubai, UAE
Number of employees: 10
Sector: AI, software
Cashflow: Dh2.5 Million
Funding stage: Series A
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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