 Liberia's George Weah has been honoured in the US |
Liberia's George Weah has received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his humanitarian efforts in his war ravaged homeland and other African countries. The honour was part of the annual ESPY awards that are organised by the US sports television network ESPN.
The Ashe award is traditionally given to an athlete whose contributions transcend sport.
Weah, Fifa's World Player of the Year in 1995 and the only African ever to win the award, has worked to demobilize Liberian child soldiers in his homeland and reintegrate them into their families and communities.
"I'm trying to reach the children and encourage them to go to school. We must give them a chance to reach their goals," Weah said.
Weah has also made several visits to Liberia to promote HIV/Aids prevention and polio vaccination and has been a United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) Goodwill Ambassador since 1997.
Meanwhile Emeka Okafor, who has Nigerian parents, also picked up an award at the ceremony as he was voted the best male college athlete.
MMIX
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