WEF 2018: Honoured to receive Crystal Award with Elton John and Cate Blanchett, says Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan today said he feels honoured to receive the 24th Crystal Award alongside Elton John and Cate Blanchett.

The Annual Crystal Awards ceremony, which opens the World Economic Forum summit in the Swiss ski resort, celebrates the achievements of outstanding artists who have shown exemplary commitment to improving the state of the world.

"Honoured to receive the World Economic Forum's 24th Crystal Award, together with Elton John and Cate Blanchett. My fan moment," Shah Rukh tweeted ahead of the awards ceremony.

Honoured to receive the @wef’s 24th Crystal Award, together with @eltonofficial and Cate Blanchett. My fan moment!!

Watch the #crystalawards via https://t.co/rILPgHRgtL at the #wef18 meeting in Davos.

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 22, 2018

SRK is receiving the award for "his leadership in championing children's and women's rights in India," the World Economic Forum (WEF) said.

Shah Rukh later tweeted pictures of him sightseeing in the resort town where over 70 heads of states and governments have converged to attend the five-day affair. 

"Shah Rukh Khan is one of Bollywood’s most prominent actors who has been at the forefront of the Indian film and television industry for over 30 years. He is the founder of the non‐profit Meer Foundation, which provides support to female victims of acid attacks and major burn injuries through medical treatment, legal aid, vocational training, rehabilitation and livelihood support," the WEF said in a statement. 

"He has also been responsible for the creation of specialized children’s hospital wards and has supported childcare centres with free boarding for children undergoing cancer treatment," it said. 

Switzerland main aake yeh na kiya toh kya kiya...?! Loving being at the Davos, now to get ready for the Crystal Award Ceremony. #DavosDiaries pic.twitter.com/c95SwSR0v2

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 22, 2018

The past awardees from India include Amitabh Bachchan, Mallika Sarabhai, A R Rahman, Shabana Azmi, Ravi Shankar and Amjad Ali Khan. 

The Crystal Award ceremony will be held today in Davos at 06:00 pm (Local Time), thus officially opening the WEF 2018. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Switzerland today, will attend the welcome reception by India and later host a dinner for global CEOs tonight. He would deliver the opening plenary address at the WEF summit tomorrow. 

India is a huge presence at this Davos year as over 130 delegates are attending the Summit.

Exquisite desi cuisine and live Yoga sessions will be the highlight of the Davos Summit where over 3,000 world leaders from business, politics, art, academia and civil society have gathered at small ski resort town on snow-covered Alps mountains. 

At the summit, India aims to showcase its economic potential, as well as its soft power, reflected in the popularity of yoga as well as its cuisine. 

(With PTI inputs)