20210225

 Thursday, 25 February

#Today 

The Laureus World Sports Awards is an annual award ceremony honoring individuals and teams from the world of sports along with sporting achievements throughout the year. It was established in 1999 by Laureus Sport for Good Foundation founding patrons Daimler and Richemont. It is supported by its global partners Mercedes-Benz, IWC Schaffhausen, and MUFG. The awards support the work of Laureus Sport for Good, which supports over 160 community projects in more than 40 countries. These programs aim to use the power of sport to end violence, discrimination, and disadvantage, and prove that sport has the power to change the world. The name "Laureus" is derived from the Greek word for laurel, considered a traditional symbol of victory in athletics.

The first ceremony was held on 25 May 2000 in Monte Carlo, at which South African president Nelson Mandela gave the keynote speech. As of 2020, awards are made annually in eight categories, with a number of discretionary categories irregularly recognized. The recipient of each award is presented with a Laureus statuette, created by Cartier, at an annual ceremony held in various locations around the world. As of 2020, the ceremonies have been held in eleven different cities, and are broadcast in at least 160 countries.

Swiss tennis player Roger Federer holds the record for the most awards with six, five for Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of the Year. A number of awards have been rescinded, namely, those presented to American cyclist Lance Armstrong, American sprinter Marion Jones and Canadian amputee sprinter Earle Connor, each of whom was subsequently found to have illegally used drugs to achieve their records. In the 2020 ceremony, Argentine Lionel Messi became the first footballer to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award. He is also the first athlete to win it coming from a team sport.

South African businessman Johann Rupert, chairman of Richemont, proposed that an organization be created "based on the principle that sport can bridge the gaps in society and change the way people look at the world." The organization, established in 1998 by a partnership of Richemont and Daimler became known as "Laureus", its name being derived from the Greek word for laurel, considered a traditional symbol of victory in athletics. The first Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony was held two years later, at which the patron and president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, delivered a speech which Edwin Moses has described as "iconic".

Awards were made in seven regular categories and two discretionary categories at the inaugural ceremony, hosted by the American actors Jeff Bridges and Dylan McDermott. Two of those awards would later be rescinded: both the American cyclist Lance Armstrong and the American track athlete Marion Jones were found to have used performance-enhancing drugs and had their awards withdrawn. The award for American amputee sprinter Earle Connor, who won the 2004 Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award, was also later rescinded.

The awards are frequently referred to as the sporting equivalent of an "Oscar" for movies. The awards have been criticized, with comments that their criteria are not clear.

The Laureus Nominations Panel, composed of more than 1,000 members of sports media from more than 70 countries, vote to create a shortlist of nominations in six categories:

• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
• Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
• Laureus World Team of the Year
• Laureus World Comeback of the Year
• Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
• Laureus Action Sportsperson of the Year

The nominees of the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability are chosen by the International Paralympic Committee.

The Laureus World Sports Academy is an association of 68 retired sportspeople who volunteer to support the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. They also vote each year to decide the winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards. As of 2020, the chairman of the Academy is Sean Fitzpatrick, former rugby player from New Zealand. The members of the Academy vote by secret ballot to select the winners.

The public votes to select the winner for one category, the Laureus Best Sporting Moment of the Year.

The Academy also makes discretionary awards, including:

• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Sport for Good Award
• Spirit of Sport Award
• Exceptional Achievement Award
• Sporting Inspiration Award

The Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony is held annually at various venues in various locations around the world. The inaugural ceremony took place at the Sporting Club in Monaco on 25 May 2000. As of 2020, the ceremonies have been held in eleven cities around the world, and are broadcast in at least 160 countries. Each Laureus World Sports Award winner receives a Cartier Laureus statuette which features a "representation of the striving human form". The award weighs approximately 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb) (with 670 grams (24 oz) of solid silver and a 650-gram (23 oz) gold-finish base) and is 30 centimeters (12 in) tall.

(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laureus_World_Sports_Awards)

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