Spanish national team wins Prince of Asturias Award for Sport

The Spanish national football team was named Tuesday as the winner of the prestigious Prince of Asturias Award for Sport.

The award from the jury comes as recognition for magnificent performances of the Spanish team over the past two years in which it has won both this summers World Cup and the 2008 European Championship.

The award comes just as Vicente del Bosque's team prepares to play Argentina in a friendly game in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.

When questioned on Monday about the possibility of his side being named as winner of this year's Prince of Asturias award, Del Bosque said..."we will receive it with honor," while captain Iker Casillas said..."It would be very nice, because nearly all of us have been given individual awards. The Prince of Asturias Award would be recognition for all of us."

It is not the first time the Awards have recognized a Spanish side than has been crowned world champion. In 2006 the Spanish basketball team won the prize after winning the World Championship in Japan.

Last year's winner was pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, while tennis star Rafael Nadal won in 2008.

The Prince of Asturias Awards, which are celebrating 30 years of existence, are given every year in a variety of fields.

This year has seen the Awards for Arts given to American sculptor Richard Senna.

Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf won the Letters award, while among others, the Archeological Team of the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xi'An won the Award for Social Sciences and the Transplantation Society and the Organization Nacional de Transplantes shared the International Cooperation Award.

Source: Xinhua