Formula-one champion Michael Schumacher, NBA All-Star LeBron James and sailor Ellen MacArthur are among five sportspeople who appear in Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people.
The eclectic list, which hits newsstands on Monday, ranges from the Dalai Lama to the inventors of the Blackberry, and from terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to Nobel laureate Nelson Mandela.
Joining Schumacher, James and MacArthur from the world of sports are Chelsea soccer team owner Roman Abramovich and World Anti-Doping Agency chief Richard Pound.
Hailing from 31 different countries, and including rappers, designers, world leaders and a tsunami survivor, the listed newsmakers have shaped the world in some way, according to the magazine’s editors.
”It really shows the breadth of human endeavour,” Time‘s managing editor, Jim Kelly, said. ”Influence can be defined in myriad ways.”
Those named were profiled by people who have themselves been in the spotlight.
NBA Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wrote: ”Roman Abramovich went from orphan to oligarch … So here’s my advice to a fellow sports-franchise owner: Ignore the press. Follow your heart.”
NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson said James ”appears level-headed and graceful in dealing with his notoriety, his good fortune and the high expectations”.
Adventurist Steve Fossett called MacArthur an inspiration after setting the solo around-the-world record, while Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason said ”watching Schumacher compete is a chance to see the most complete driver the world has known give a master class in motor racing”. — Sapa-AP