Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

8 L aureates 1981–2014 Federico García Moliner is one of the most distinguished representatives of the Spain that enjoys international prestige in the field of science. I do not only wish to emphasise his facet as a scientific researcher, in which he has achieved an extremely high degree of success in the field of solid state physics, but also his resolute efforts in favour of Spanish science, by giving up exceptional economic and material conditions abroad and returning to Spain in order to join in the common undertaking of his homeland. Ceaseless worker and scholar, spiritual father of various generations of economists, heir to the most lucid minds of the Asturian Enlightenment, Juan Velarde Fuertes is a model for his independence of judgement and for the rigour of his research, as well as for the generosity with which he conveys it. For the first time, a dramatist receives the Prince of Asturias Award for Literature. Francisco Nieva is an extraordinary personality who, through the unique hallmark of his work, has known how to combine the most important vanguards of our century with the most brilliant theatrical tradition. The best features of Spanish youth are reflected both naturally and spontaneously in the figure of Miguel Induráin: sacrificing, simple, loyal to his team-mates and generous with his rivals, affectionate with those who admire him, this great athlete possesses a professional career which, despite its fecundity, still awaits better days to come. On this day when Spain announces to the world via this event its admiration for those who leave behind them works via which they show they have lived, as Nebrija asked of men, I wish to recall my visits to the World Fair in Seville, where I witnessed the force and imagination of present-day Spain. I would also like to recall with special emotion the moment in which I had the honour, as standard bearer of the Spanish flag, of leading our country’s delegation of sportsmen and women at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona. My wish is for this fond memory to accompany my congratulations to our sportsmen and women for their accomplishments and to so many other fellow countrymen and women who, during this year in which we commemorate the Quincentenary of the Discovery of America, have made it possible with their hopes, enthusiasm, imagination and generosity for us Spaniards to go —as Unamuno once entreated— from dreaming to making our dreams a reality. Thank you very much. “In a year as meaningful for Spain as this, in which so many milestones in our history are being celebrated, the Foundation could not have found —and for this I congratulate its Juries— a better representation of the spirit and aspirations of these Awards.” 31 st O ctober 1992