History
The Laureus World Sports Awards were founded in 1999 by two sponsors, the DaimlerChrysler automotive company and Richemont, a Swiss luxury goods company. The first awards were given in 2000. There were nine of them.
A two-tier process is used to determine the winners of five of those original awards: Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Team of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Comeback of the Year. A panel of sports media representatives from more than 80 countries select six nominees and the winners are then chosen by voters from a select group, the Laureus World Sports Academy. In 2007, the Newcomer of the Year was replaced by Breakthrough of the Year, which is chosen by the same process.
The Alternative Sportsperson of the Year is chosen by a panel of alternative sports journalists from around the world. The Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability award is overseen by the Executive Committee of the International Paralympic Committee. The other two original awards, the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award and the Sport for Good Award, are presented at the discretion of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
The Laureus Spirit of Sport Award was added in 2005. It is also given at the discretion of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Cartier produces the statuettes that are presented to the winners. Each statuette is 30 centimeters (about 12 inches) high and weighs 2.5 kilograms (about 11 pounds).