Laureus World Sports Awards 2023

• 10 May 2023

Why in News?

Recently, the winners of the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards were announced. The Awards were held in person in Paris for the first time since 2020.

What are the Key Points?

• About:
  • The awards are conferred annually to honour the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the year and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
  • The first Laureus World Sports Award ceremony took place on May 25, 2000.
    • American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
  • It is often referred to as the sporting equivalent of the Oscars.

• Award Categories:
  • Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
    • Lionel Messi became the first footballer to be awarded the Sportsman of the Year (in 2020)
  • Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (Jamaica)
  • Laureus World Team of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Argentina Men's Football Team 
  • Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Carlos Alcaraz (Spain)
  • Laureus World Comeback of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Christian Eriksen (Denmark)
  • Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year
    • Winner of 2023: Eileen Gu (China)
  • Laureus Sport for Good
    • Winner of 2023: TEAMUP (Global)
      • TeamUp is a psycho-social support intervention developed by War Child, Save the Children and UNICEF Netherlands, which helps children in difficult situations to relieve stress and tension.
  • Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year With a Disability
    • Winner of 2023: Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland)
    • The shortlist for World Athlete of the Year with a Disability is provided by the International Paralympic Committee.
• Important Awardees:
  • Roger Federer holds the record for winning the most awards. The Swiss tennis player has won six awards, five for Sportsman of the Year and one for Comeback of the Year.
  • Serena Williams holds the record for winning the most award by a female.
  • Lionel Messi – who led Argentina to the World Cup in 2022 – became the first athlete to win the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year and also pick up the Laureus World Team of the Year Award in the same year i.e, 2023.
• Other Categories of Awards:
  • Apart from these regular seven awards, there are some more awards that were awarded which are discretionary awards. These include:
    • Lifetime Achievement Award
    • Sport for Good Award
    • Spirit of Sport Award
    • Exceptional Achievement Award
    • Sporting Inspiration Award

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims:

Q. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award which was instituted in the year 2000:

1. American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award.
2. The award was received mostly by ‘Formula One’ players so far.
3. Roger Federer received this award maximum number of times compared to others.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

• The Laureus World Sports Awards is the premier global sporting awards. First held in 2000, the annual event honours the greatest and most inspirational sporting triumphs of the year and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for Good.
• American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this award. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The award has been received mostly by Men’s Football Team (6 times) players so far. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Roger Federer (5 times) has received this award, the maximum number of times compared to others followed by Usain Bolt (4 times) and Novak Djokovic (4 times). Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Source: TH