"This is the 15th year of Laureus and I am delighted that the 2014 Awards are to be staged in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

"I thank Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri for the support we have received from Malaysia in making this happen and look forward to working closely together to produce an unforgettable event next month.

"Malaysia is a wonderful country and a great place to visit and we are all looking forward to being there."

The Istana Budaya, the National Theatre of Malaysia, is home to the National Theatre Company and National Symphony Orchestra.

Situated next to the beautiful Lake Titiwangsa, its dramatic architecture is based on the design of a traditional Malay house and has been the venue for many great classical works and Broadway shows.

The 2014 Laureus World Sports Award Ceremony will now take place at the Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after Brazil was forced to withdraw its plan to hold the event last month ©MyLoupe/UIG/Getty Images



Making the announcement alongside Moses was Malaysia's minister of sport and tourism, Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri.

"Kuala Lumpur is honoured to have been given the privilege of hosting the prestigious 2014 Laureus World Sports Awards and the city looks forward to staging this internationally-renowned event and welcoming a plethora of sporting legends to Malaysia," he said.

"This is a sports-loving country and I can promise warm Malaysian hospitality awaits all our guests.

"Coupled with international events such as the Monsoon Cup and Formula One Grand Prix, we are supremely confident that Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is the perfect host for a sporting event with such global significance.

"I am positive this will be an event to remember for all involved."

The Laureus World Sports Awards has become the premier honours event on the international sporting calendar since its inauguration in 2000.

The winners, as voted by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a unique group of 46 of the greatest sportsmen and sportswomen of all time, will be unveiled at the Istana Budaya on Wednesday, March 26.

Six Nominees will be announced in various categories in Kuala Lumpur on February 26, exactly one month before the Awards Ceremony.

These categories include, Laureus World Sportsman of the Year, Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year, Laureus World Team of the Year, Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year, Laureus World Comeback of the Year, Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability and Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year.

The members of the Laureus World Sports Academy will then vote by secret ballot to decide the winners in each category.

Previous winners of the Awards, over the 15 years, include Usain Bolt, Sebastian Coe, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Alex Ferguson, Lewis Hamilton, Kelly Holmes, Rafael Nadal, Pelé, Steve Redgrave, Ronaldo, Michael Schumacher, Kelly Slater, Shaun White, Serena Williams and Zinedine Zidane.

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