Two British sportsmen have been nominated for prizes at the annual Laureus World Sports Awards.
The Laureus World Sports Awards, which are presented annually to teams and individuals for sporting achievements, were established in 1999 by the Laureus Sports for Good Foundation. Around 100 community projects around the world are supported by the foundation, whose aim is to show how sport can end discrimination, disadvantage and violence. ‘Laureus’ is a derivative of ‘laurel’ the traditional Greek symbol of victory.
The awards were the brainchild of Johann Rupert, a South African businessman who wanted:
“[an organisation] based on the principle that sport can bridge the gaps in society and change the way people look at the world”.
Two British sportsmen have been nominated for an award in the 2019 ceremony. Firstly, F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has been nominated for Sportsman of the Year. Furthermore, 2018 winner of the Tour de France, Geraint Thomas, is nominated for Breakthrough of the Year.
Other categories include Team of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Sportsperson with a Disability, Action Sportsman, and Best Sporting Moment. There are also several discretionary awards.
The winners of each category will receive engraved awards of the famous Cartier statuette, which depicts a “representation of the striving human form”. The statuette is of two, back to back figures with their arms outstretched, standing inside a silver half hoop. They are placed on a silver and gold plinth which is engraved with a map of the world, and stands 30 centimetres tall. The statuette weighs around 2.5 kilograms, of which 670g of silver and 650g of gold make up the engraved base.
