“The russian challenge”
On 29 September at 18:00, on the roof terrace of the Tsum department store in the heart of Moscow, Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona for the first time faced the challenge of the Hublot Million Dollar Wall.
He was delighted to accept the invitation from Hublot to meet the following challenge: 10 balls, at 10 targets from 10 metres, with just of different diameters, each representing a value of $25,000 to $300,000.
With a first shot at $ 300’000, he ultimately raised the total sum of $ 500’000 which will be donated in its entirety to the Raisa Gorbacheva Memorial Institute for Children Hematology and Transplantation at the Pavlov State Medical University of Saint Petersburg. The prize was presented to Professor Afanasiev, Director of the Institute, as a first symbolic gift towards more substantial steps in bringing the vital project of an unrelated bone marrow donor registry to life. Also in attendance to mark the event was Professor Mikhail Didur, Doctor of Medical Science and Head of the Saint Petersburg State Medical University named after I.P. Pavlov.
After the challenge, Diego Maradona descended with Mr Ricardo Guadalupe, General Director of Hublot – to Hublot’s Moscow Boutique on the 1st floor of Tsum to present the first piece of the new Hublot Maradona limited series, made from gold and ceramic, and especially created to celebrate this living legend and commemorate his “Russian challenge”.
“We have very strong ties with Diego Maradona,” emphasized Ricardo Guadalupe, General Director of Hublot. “We both love to show originality and generosity in setting up events as exceptional as this one million dollar challenge, which will help take the first step towards setting up a registry for unrelated bone marrow donors for children in Russia.“
It is the first time that Maradona has accepted such a challenge. His “Russian challenge”, as he calls it!
A wall the actual size of a football goal (7.30 X 2.40 m) was set up with 10 circular holes of different diameters, each representing a sum of $ 25,000 to $ 300,000. With just 10 balls before him, and at the familiar distance of 16 metres, Maradona took a shot at each hole in sequence, with each successful shot raising the total of the donation by the amount indicated under the hole. We should clarify that there will be no losers, regardless of his performance: Hublot has already promised a significant contribution, one worthy of the event, to the Raisa Gorbacheva Memorial Institute for Children Hematology and Transplantation.
This is the third time that Hublot has set up its One Million Challenge. Manchester United’s footballers volunteered for the challenge in Hangzou, China, before repeating the event – in view of its huge success – in the heart of New York, at the foot of the Flatiron building.
A Hublot Maradona gold and ceramic watch – in a limited edition of just 100 pieces – to celebrate the living legend and commemorate his “Russian Challenge”
After the creation by Hublot of a first Big Bang Chronograph Maradona in black ceramic, which achieved dazzling success, the two partners unveiled in Moscow a Big Bang in polished red gold, with a black ceramic bezel and black dial bearing Diego Maradona’s signature in blue, and his iconic jersey number “10” on the counter at 3 o’clock. The indices and seconds hand are coloured the same blue and white, as is the special 45-minute counter at 9 o’clock (alluding to the duration of half a football match!). The black alligator Gummy strap is stitched with three threads, two blue and one white as a not to the flag of Argentina. The case-back bears a drawing of the football legend in person, with his arms raised in a Victory sign. Just 100 pieces of this limited series will be available, and each watch will be accompanied by a football jersey autographed by the legend himself.
Maradona – The Living Legend
From Argentina to the rest of the world, Diego Maradona, also known as “the footballer of the 20th Century”, has been crowned with a host of distinctions. A brilliant, intense, wholehearted genius, he has scored some of the most spectacular goals in the history of football, and at the age of 25 achieved his childhood dream of leading Argentina’s national team to victory in the 1986 World Cup. In 1995 he was awarded the Ballon d’Or – the ultimate distinction for an international footballer – for his career achievements. Most recently, he was an outstanding and passionate head coach and leader of his national team at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
