Maria Sharapova Launches Scholarships Progammes

Maria Sharapova Launches Scholarships Progammes In Belarus

Maria Sharapova announced today that she is launching a $210,000 scholarship programme for students from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus. The programme is a joint initiative of the Maria Sharapova Foundation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she serves as Goodwill Ambassador. The scholarships will enable 12 talented young people from Chernobyl-affected regions to follow a full course of studies at two leading universities in Belarus.

Sharapova’s foundation has already contributed $100,000 to youth-oriented projects in the regions of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Maria Sharapova was expected to travel to Belarus to launch the scholarship programme in person this month, but was forced to postpone her visit in order to receive medical treatment for a shoulder injury. Her visit is now planned for 2009.

“It has always been my dream to contribute to the recovery of a region where I have a personal connection,” said Maria. “Enabling talented young people to pursue higher education is part of a broader effort to build a brighter future for the region.”

“UNDP is honoured to count Maria Sharapova among its Goodwill Ambassadors,” commented Kemal Dervi?, UNDP Administrator. “Her engagement helps to convey a message of optimism to young people in a once-blighted region where a return to normal life is now a realistic prospect.”

The Maria Sharapova Foundation Scholarship for Youth from the Chernobyl-Affected Areas of Belarus will award five-year scholarships consisting of annual cash grants to 12 students at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and the Belarusian State University.
Three incoming students will be awarded scholarships each year, over an initial four-year period. It is the first instance in Belarus in which an international non-government organization will provide support of this type to education. The first scholarship recipients will begin their studies in September 2009.

Information from Maria Sharapova Website
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Maria Sharapova Wins ESPY Award 2008

PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 19, 2008 – Maria Sharapova is not only a tennis player but now she also known as celebrity. She always nominate for ‘Best International Female Athlete’ and ‘Best Female Tennis Player’.  She attended the ESPY awards party held last night in Los Angeles. She was nominated for ‘Best Female Tennis Player’ and she won this title again. This is her Third ESPY Award  and second consecutive title from ESPY Award; before she collect this title on July 11, 2007, the ESPY awards pre party held at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Adorned in a sexy black leather dress and matching stilettos, the former world number one was joined by fellow tennis star Serena Williams. Where Maria was nominated for two awards: ‘Best International Female Athlete’ and ‘Best Female Tennis Player’. This time Maria won the ESPY for best tennis player over finalists Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic.  The ESPYS are decided by fan voting.

The show, taped at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles and hosted by Timberlake, will air on ESPN this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. EST.

For more information please visit=http://mariasharapova.webng.com/

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Olympic Spotlight on…Maria Sharapova

Interview with Maria Sharapova (RUS) (MP3 format)

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Q: How excited are you about the Olympics?

MS: I’m very excited. It’s every young boy’s and girl’s dream to participate in the Olympics. To actually know that it’s coming up in a few months is very exciting and I’m very looking forward to being a part of it.

Q: You’ve talked about when you were growing up, you imagined being at the Olympics.

MS: I did. It was one of the things that my parents allowed me to watch on TV late. One of those was the opening ceremony. I remember being up at one in the morning because I’d have to wait until Russia would come up. Obviously, that’s a later letter in the alphabet. So it was very exciting.

And I remember them wearing their white berets. I used to have a similar one, so I’d put it on while they were walking and pretend like I was part of it. Those were some great memories.

Q: Did you ever really think you could have the name Maria Sharapova Olympian?

MS: When I was younger, I imagined myself playing Wimbledon, but I never thought ‘Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon champion.’ So anything is possible. The exciting thing about the Olympics is that it comes only once in four years. It’s a dream come true for every athlete. I’m just very excited about the whole experience.

Q: When you watching as a child, what did you think you were going to be participating in?

MS: When I was watching it, I was already playing tennis. So, of course, I was hoping that I’d be a tennis player, which I am. But, you know, in Russia, figure skating was a huge sport, and gymnastics.

Q: What is you favourite moment in all the Olympics you’ve watched?

MS: Always my favorite parts were the stage where all the athletes received their gold medals. Each one would come up for the bronze, the silver, then the gold, then the anthems would be. You see the emotion in each athletes’ eyes. That was very cool to see.

Q: Can you imagine what it’s going to be like walking out with the Russian team?

MS: I don’t know. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. You know, it’s really surreal. My imagination of it is just picturing all these athletes in this one big room getting lined up to go outside in front of thousands and thousands of people.

Q: Who would you like to meet in Beijing if you get the opportunity?

MS: I’d love to meet my fellow Russian athletes from different sports because we never really get to chat or even meet. So especially the ones that are doing really well, you know, in gymnastics and stuff like that.

Q: If you did happen to medal, where would that rank for you with your Grand Slam titles?

MS: It would be incredible. But I think just the fact that I get to participate in it, you know, is an honour. But getting a medal would be incredible.