On Thursday 17 December, at 7.30 pm, Barcelona City Council, through the Barcelona Institute of Sports, will be holding the 13th Women and Sport Awards ceremony. Adapting to the current situation, the ceremony will be a virtual affair shown on the BCN Esports website and the BCN Esports YouTube channel in première format, enabling viewers to interact and congratulate the winners live via a virtual chat.
There are four Women and Sport Awards, which distinguish the career of sportswomen as well as sports clubs and other entities.
Best Media Award
The Media Award acknowledges individuals or media that have excelled in their work to promote or publicise facts, events, activities and triumphs relating to women and sport.
The candidates are the journalist Begoña Villarrubia Renom; Catalunya Ràdio, for broadcasting the final of the Women’s Champions League (2019); “La vida després de tocar el cel”, report by Nereida Carrillo Pérez; “Hijas de Cynisca”, a documentary by Beatriz Carretero; the Sorora Publisher’s Association; “Cronómetro de Récords”, a women’s basketball blog; the Ara newspaper sports section; the Sara Giménez Leó’ YouTube interview channel; Sara Carmona Hernando, YouTuber and social media influencer; the BTV sports section; the “La borsa del futbol femení” section of La porteria; BTV esports en femení; and the magazine Fosbury, Nº 33 “Més enllà del focus”.
Best Sports Club Award
The aim of this second award is to recognise a Barcelona sports club that has stood out for its work in promoting women’s sport or its work in this area during the previous year.
The candidate clubs are: Club Esportiu Barnarítmica, Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona; Club Beach Tennis Barcelona; Club Esportiu Handbol BCN Sants; Grup Mou-te Les Corts; Club esportiu INEF Barcelona; Club d’esgrima Sala d’Armes Montjuïc; BCN Rugby Subaquàtic; and Club Esportiu Barcelona Tsunamis.
Best Sportswoman Award
Next it will be time to find out the winner of the Women Sportswoman Award, which recognises sportswomen, their careers, their social impact and their contribution to the world of sport.
The candidates are: the kite surfer Rita Arnaus Peitx; the water polo player Naia Duran Balentzia; another water polo player Anna Espart Llaquet; the beach tennis player Eva Fernández Palos; the rugby player Aroa González de la Concepción; the Paralympic snow surfer Astrid Fina Paredes; the triathlete Anna Godoy Contreras; the rugby player Maria Losada Gifra; and the adapted rugby player Marta Llauradó Gómez.
Mireia Tapiador Award
Finally it will be the turn of the Mireia Tapiador Award for promoting sport, which is for women who have stood out for their work in popularising and promoting sport.
The candidates are: Mariona Miró Casamajó, prison sports technician; M.Dolors Ribalta Alcalde, former footballer, teacher and activist; Andrea Macià Martí, acrobat, paddle surfer and AcroYoga teacher; Helena Sandín Esteban, rugby player and trainer; Merche Ríos Hernández, specialist in physical education and psychosport activity for people with functional diversity and at risk of exclusion; Myrna Mates Scherer, former athlete, master shoemaker and sports event organiser; Carlota Planas Riera, ex-footballer and founder of the sports agency; Eva Serra Vila, trainer, sports director of sports and competition dancing; Maria Vignau Batlló, founder of the Marnaton; and the runner Paula Fernández Ochoa.
13 editions and 13 booklets
The goal of the awards is to highlight the achievements of women united in their passion and devotion to physical activity and sport. They have also opened up a new means of disseminating and introducing stories and reflections on the role of women in sport, in order to help achieve a more equal presence in all age ranges and all fields of sport and physical activity.
Every year a booklet is produced with the winners of the previous year and this year sees the publication of the 13th edition of the ‘Quadern Dones i Esport’.