James joins Fitzpatrick on Operation Breakthrough

Press release

HONG KONG, October 31, 2008 – South African Rugby World Cup winner Butch James, the newest Laureus Ambassador, has joined former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick on a visit to the rugby-based Operation Breakthrough project in Hong Kong.

Butch James and Laureus World Sports Academy member Sean Fitzpatrick met the Operation Breakthrough Under 16s team at the International Youth Tournament being held in Hong Kong and Fitzpatrick, who captained the All Blacks a record 51 times, delighted the players and the spectators by performing the ritual Maori ‘Haka’ dance.

They were joined in Hong Kong by celebrated British mountaineer Annabelle Bond, also a Laureus Friend and Ambassador, who scaled the highest summits on seven continents in just 360 days, making her the fastest woman climber in the world. Formerly a Hong Kong resident, she took part in the 63-mile Machlehose Trail mountain marathon for four straight years. She has raised over US 1.6m for an ovarian cancer charity.