Tennis Ace Sharapova Named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador

The world’s top female tennis player, Maria Sharapova of Russia, today became a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with a special focus on helping with the recovery efforts after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

“One of my proudest contracts ever,” said Ms. Sharapova after signing on for a symbolic $1 salary as an ambassador during a ceremony with UNDP Associate Administrator Ad Melkert at UN Headquarters in New York. Ms. Sharapova announced that she and her newly created private foundation would donate $100,000 to eight UNDP projects in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine that try to assist those areas still blighted by the Chernobyl accident.

Those projects aim to restore hospitals and sports facilities, improve access to computers, and promote ecological awareness across the three countries.

“I was just briefed on Chernobyl effects and how I will be involved with it, and I’m just so excited to be a part of this process – I can’t wait. I can’t wait to help with everything I can,” she told reporters.


http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0702/S00251.htm

She sounds pretty excited, good to see her get involved in helping people.

But I saw the Australian Open. Basically she is a no talent show-off cheater. Her father gives her way too many messages. She made more in one year than Williams her whole career. Williams kicked ass this year. Ohhh..and Roddick is another show off. He claimed he was closing the gap with Federer yet got his ass handed....

How could you not like this?


Drop dead gorgeous AND the #1 ranked player in the world.

She's not well respected although the good ole boy network loves to exploit her.

No good deed goes un-criticized.

I could give a rat's ass what the "tennis community" thinks.

through endorsments?

Like it or not, she's not well liked by people who actually follow the sport.

Sharpova is doing something good with her money and fame. Good for her.