Andy Garcia will host the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid

Andy Garcia will host the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid

Will be Andy GarciaHollywood star, to host the 25th edition of the Laureus World Sports Awardsthe Oscars of sport, the most prestigious event on the international sporting calendar, scheduled in Madridnear it historic Palacio de Cibelesnext Monday April 22.

Andy Garcia's name joins those of other movie stars who have already presented the Laureus Awards in the past such as Bill Murray, Hugh Grant and Benedict Cumberbatch. Andy Garcia has starred in some of the most beloved films of the last 30 years, but before fulfilling his dream as an actor he dreamed of becoming a professional athlete. He played basketball and baseball and his Little League coach in Miami was another Oscar-nominated actor, Mickey Rourke.

For four decades Andy Garcia has lit up the small and big screen, starring in films such as The Godfather: Part III, for which he was nominated for an Oscar, The Untouchables and Ocean's 11 and its sequels. But his love for sport has never waned: Andy Garcia, in fact, regularly participates in golf events, threw the first pitch at a Los Angeles Dodgers Major League game and is often in the front row at Staples Center to watch “his” Los Angeles Lakers.

«Sport has always played an important role in my life» said Andy Garcia. «Before I thought about becoming an actor, I wanted to be an athlete. And today I still love hanging out on the golf course or watching my favorite team play. Sport has a special power. It's a power that the Laureus Awards leverage. It is truly a great honor for me to be able to present these awards in the beautiful city of Madrid this year. All the athletes who will be awarded on April 22nd are true heroes. They amazed us with seemingly superhuman feats. This generation of athletes can also shape the world around them, both through the work they do away from the spotlight and by tackling sensitive issues when they know the world is listening. What we have experienced in 2023 has been an unforgettable sporting year and I look forward to celebrating its heroes at the Laureus World Sports Awards.”.

The awards ceremony will be broadcast worldwide. In Italy, the Laureus Awards will be broadcast in live on Sky Sport Uno, Sky Sport Arena and streaming on NOW on Monday 22 April, at 8.00 pm with the comment of Giovanni Bruno, Nicola Roggero and Ghilda Pensante. Live connections on Sky Sport 24 with correspondent Valentina Fassready to collect interviews with the sports and entertainment stars present at the evening directly on the red carpet.

The winners of the different categories will be decided by Laureus World Sports Academythe jury par excellence composed of 69 sports legendsafter that over 1300 journalists from all over the world have already cast their votes, defining the nominations.

This year's shortlist includes the world's greatest athletes. Last year's winner, Lionel Messiis again nominated as “Sportsman of the Year” together with Erling Haaland, Duplantis World, Noah Lyles, Max Verstappen And Novak Djokovic. The Olympic track stars Sha'Carri Richardson, Faith Kipyegon And Shericka Jackson I'm on the shortlist together with Iga Świątek, Mikaela Shiffrin And Aitana Bonmatí. Not less than 15 Olympic and Paralympic gold medal winners will participate in the next Laureus Awards, which will anticipate the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics by a few months. The medal-winning athletes will also be joined by other champions and world record holders of many sports disciplines.

Prominent names such as Raúl, Cafu, Ruud Gullit; Jessica Ennis-Hill, Michael Johnson, Edwin Moses, Sean Fitzpatrick, Bryan Habana And Martina Navratilova.

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award

Novak Djokovic (Serbia), tennis

Duplantis World (Sweden), athletics

Erling Haaland (Norway), football

Noah Lyles (USA), athletics

Lionel Messi (Argentina), football

Max Verstappen (Netherlands), motor racing

Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Award

Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), football

Shericka Jackson (Jamaica), athletics

Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), athletics

Sha'Carri Richardson (USA), athletics

Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), alpine skiing

Iga Świątek (Poland), tennis

Laureus World Team of the Year Award

Team Europe Ryder Cupgolf

German men's national basketball team

Manchester City (England), football

Formula One team Oracle Red Bull Racing (Austria), motor racing

Springboks (South Africa), rugby

Spanish women's national football team

Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year Award

Jude Bellingham (UK), football

Linda Caicedo (Colombia), football

Coco Gauff (USA), tennis

Qin Haiyang (China), swimming

Josh Kerr (UK), athletics

Salma Paralluelo (Spain), football

Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award

Simone Biles (USA), artistic gymnastics

Sébastien Haller (Ivory Coast), football

Katarina Johnson-Thompson (UK), athletics

Siya Kolisi (South Africa), rugby

Jamal Murray (Canada), basketball

Marketa Vondroušová (Czech Republic), tennis

Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with Disability Award

Simone Barlaam (Italy), paralympic swimming

Danylo Chufarov (Ukraine), paralympic swimming

Gave de Groot (Netherlands), wheelchair tennis

Luca Ekler (Hungary), paralympic athletics

Nicole Murray (New Zealand), Paralympic cycling

Markus Rehm (Germany), Paralympic athletics

Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award

Rayssa Leal (Brazil), skateboard

Caroline Marks (USA), surfing

Kirsten Neuschȁfer (South Africa), sailing

Bethany Shriever (UK), bmx

Filipe Toledo (Brazil), surfing

Arisa Trew (Australia), skateboarding

Laureus Sport for Good Award

Programs selected by a specialized jury. The Laureus Academy will choose the winner

Bola Pra Frente (Brazil), multi-sport, uses sport to increase educational opportunities for young people

Dancing Grounds (USA), promotes social integration with dance

Fundación Rafa Nadal (Spain), tennis is a tool to promote education

ISF Cambodiafootball for education – It aims to break the cycle of poverty through football

Justice Desk Africa (South Africa), multi-sport for human rights – Help young people fight for their human rights through sport

Objective Naples (Italy) multi-sport for inclusion – Violence, inequality and discrimination are combated through football, basketball, volleyball and taekwondo.