Outstanding recognition for the Spanish National Team, which has catapulted the Spanish football to the Olympus. The Principe de Asturias Prize of Sports in 2010, in its twenty third edition, has gone to the Spanish National Team and will be given in the Campoamor theatre, in Oviedo. Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Pedro Rodríguez (FC Barcelona) Jesús Navas (Sevilla FC) and Javi Martínez (Athletic club) are part of the group that conquered the South Africa’s 2010 World Cup which, for that reason, deserves this prestigious award.
Jesús Navas and Javi Martínez will travel to Oviedo to attend the ceremony, whilst Fernando Torres and Pedro will be unable to be there, because they were not allowed by their respective clubs, Liverpool and Barcelona, due to the important Premier and League fixtures that the will face this weekend.
This award means a deserved tribute for the National Team which has conquered the last years one Euro Cup and one Wold Cup, definitely the best streak of the history for the Spanish king sport. Since in June 2008 a goal scored by Fernando Torres ended with the drought of titles for the National Team that burdened its track record since 1964.
This team has not stopped from growing marvelling the world with its quality, elegant, paced, bright and effective game that has shaped a legend culminated with the greatest achivevement it could get: the conquering of the World Champions title in South Africa 2010.
The third members of the jury have designated the National Team before the other 18 candidates with great achievements. There were shortlisted some great sportsmen and women, like the mountain climber Edurne Pasabán, the athlete Marta Domínguez, the goalkeeper of the Spanish National Handball Team, David Barrufet, or the Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebreselassie. This is the second time that national team is awarded with this prize, because in 2002 the Brazilian National Football Team was also awarded with this prize.
- History of the Principe de Asturias Prize of the Sports
2009: Y. Isinbayeba (athletics))
2008: Rafa Nadal (tennis)
2007: Michael Schumacher (F-1)
2006: Spanish National Basketball Team (Basketball)
2005: Fernando Alonso (F-1)
2004: El Guerrouj (Athletics)
2003: Tour de France (Cycling)
2002: Brazilian National Football Team (Football)
2001: Manuel Estiarte (Water polo)
2000: Louis Armstrong (Cycling)
1999: Steffi Graf (Tennis)
1998: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (Tennis)
1997: Spanish National Marathon Team
1996: Carl Lewis (Athletics)
1995: H. Boulmerka (Athletics)
1994: M. Navratilova (Tennis)
1993: J. Sotomayor (Athletics)
1992: Miguel Indurain (Cycling)
1991: Sergeui Bubka (Athletics)
1990: Sito Pons (Motocycling)
1989: Severiano Ballesteros (Golf)
1988: José Antonio Samaranch (IOC)
1987: Sebastian Coe (Athletics)
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