News, December 2005

25th Prince of Asturias prizes, October 21st

Fernando Alonso at a Silverstone presentation

The 25th edition of Spain's most prestigious Prince of Asturias prizes took place again in the Campoamor theatre in Oviedo, the principality's capital. The best known of the prize-winners is Asturian racing driver Fernando Alonso, but the prizes are far from a regional event. Last year's Concord prize went to J.K.Rowling, while this year's International Cooperation prize goes to Simone Veil. Only one other Spaniard is among the winners: Tamara Rojo, lead dancer with the Royal Ballet.

Senior ballet dancer Maya Plisetskaya shares with Tamara the arts prize. The Concord prize goes this year to the Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, an order of nuns working in many lands for the benefit of the needy. The communication and humanities prize is shared among the European cultural institutes, such as the British Council.

If last year's awards were special in that Princess Letizia was present, having been present in the previous edition as a reporter, this year her absence will be noted as her doctors have told her to stay home. She is in the last days of her first pregnancy. (See separate article!)

More information from the Foundation