The kings of Spain, accompanied by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, preside this Friday at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo over the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, which this year distinguishes, among others, to the American actress Meryl Streep , the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami and the Kenyan athlete Eliud Kipchoge .
For the first time in the 43-year history of the awards, among the eight categories there will be two absences due to death, that of the Italian professor and writer Nuccio Ordine, who died at the age of 64 on June 10, just one month after being recognized. with the Communication and Humanities award, and that of the historian Hélène Carrère d’Encausse, who died at the age of 94 on August 5, almost three months after being awarded the Social Sciences award.
Biologist Jeffrey Gordon will also not be able to be there, due to the recent death of his wife, but his colleagues Bonnie L. Bassler and Peter Greenberg will be there to collect the Scientific and Technical Research award for discoveries that are allowing innovative therapeutic applications and the search for new effective treatments against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The list of winners in this XLIII edition is completed by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), an organization distinguished with the International Cooperation award for the development of new treatments for patients from poor and vulnerable communities, and the NGO Mary’s Meals, awarded the Concorde for its work to feed millions of schoolchildren in areas affected by food crises.
Streep, Kipchoge and Pizarro will give speeches
On this occasion there will be three, not four, winners who will speak at the Campoamor, as this time the unwritten rule that the winner in the Literature category, in this case the Japanese Haruki Murakami, intervenes on behalf of the rest of the distinguished winners, is broken. during a ceremony that will be broadcast live on RTVE and the Asturian regional television RTPA.
Thus, the leading role in the speeches will fall on Meryl Streep, the actress nominated most times for the Oscars and the Golden Globes in history, Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts; Eliud Kipchoge, recognized with the Sports Award for being considered the best marathon runner of all time, and the executive director of DNDi, Luis Pizarro.
However, and in recognition of his memory and his humanist legacy, the Princess of Asturias Foundation will distribute a copy of the notes for his speech on which Nuccio Ordine had already begun working on his computer days before his death.
Events prior to the ceremony
Prior to the ceremony, the kings, who arrived yesterday in Oviedo to preside over the traditional awards concert, will hold the traditional audiences at the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo, which on this occasion has adorned its balconies with some of these new institutional confectioners. awards, manufactured in the Royal Tapestry Factory in navy blue cotton velvet.
The hearings will start with the winners of the 2022 End of Degree Awards from the University of Oviedo and the 2023 Medals of Asturias, and will continue with the winners of the Princess of Asturias Awards, the juries and the trustees of the Princess of Asturias Foundation.
As is traditional, the events will be completed on Saturday with the visit and presentation of the Award to the Exemplary Town of Asturias, which this year has gone to the parishes of Arroes, Pion and Candanal, belonging to the council of Villaviciosa and which have been distinguished by the diversification of its economy and the rejuvenation of its population.
Leonor de Borbón’s presence in Oviedo takes place less than two weeks before her swearing in of the Constitution in the Cortes Generales, set for October 31, the same day she turns 18.
Queen Sofía arrives in Oviedo to attend the Princess Awards ceremony
Queen Sofía is already in Oviedo to attend the award ceremony of the 43rd edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards at the Campoamor Theater this afternoon.
Like every year since Felipe VI acceded to the throne in 2014, the queen will watch the gala from one of the Campoamor boxes and has arrived at the Hotel de la Reconquista amidst the strains of the bagpiper band, who welcomed her. on the outside of the building.
Doña Sofía entered the hotel while the kings, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía held the traditional audience with the patrons of the Foundation and winners of this year’s awards, a first contact with the winners prior to the award ceremony. of the awards that will take place hours later
By Muhammad Umair