Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches

P rince of A sturias A wards 1981-2014. S peeches 11 By quoting the symbolic, moving lyricism of this poem, we celebrate that art in one of its most beautiful forms has united Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said; for we believe, as does our much- admired Laureate from last year, George Steiner, that music can transform space, density and even the course of the world. We wish them ongoing success in their ambitions for concord —which we all share— in a world torn by its past and so wounded by its present. The Brazilian Football Squad has received the Award for Sports. This Award was established to extol the benefits of sport for man and to reward those who not only rise to sporting excellence, but are also exemplary in their moral values. On this occasion it highlights the past merits of Brazil’s footballers and the social importance that football has in their country. In Brazil, football is indeed a phenomenon that exceeds the bounds of sport. Capable of expressing feelings in a unique way, playing football has become part of the Brazilian identity. It is also a passion that they share. Such characteristics are common to many other countries yet are particularly marked in Brazil, where football boosts the self-esteem and dignity of a whole nation, as President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has pointed out. If sport channelled in the right directions is always particularly beneficial and effective, this is even more the case when it is played in communities suffering high levels of social alienation and isolation. It makes a major contribution to social integration and the education of children and youth, who often find in sport the opportunity to free themselves forever of a future that is threatened by illness, poverty and social upheaval. The first stages of the 21st century and the third millennium of our era have ushered in a fascinating world that is witnessing change at breakneck speed, of unforeseeable results, plagued by uncertainty and risks. Yet it is also replete with opportunities. We are witnessing undreamt-of breakthroughs in science, sublime acts of artistic creation and heroic acts of solidarity that transcends frontiers. Parallel to all this, and clearly global in their dimensions, poverty, hunger, illness and rampant mass migration all stand out alongside ignorance, fanaticism and the reign of terror in new, diverse and destructive guises. Mankind faces these problems, and solving them is one of the great challenges of our times. And yet, as is always the case, the doors of hope are still open, for history teaches us that however enormous tragedies, failures and difficulties may be, they have not stopped man progressing towards a better world. Such a world will inevitably need to be ruled by a global ethics that respects cultural diversity and unites peoples around sincerely shared, common values that allow for free, peaceful co-existence. Throughout this speech, I have used one of the most beautiful words that our language has coined: esperanza (hope). I will invoke the word once again to thank our Laureates for attending this event. Their lives and work inspire a deep feeling of hope in us. They also symbolise the yearning for concord, cooperation and solidarity that our Awards encapsulate. This does not only refer to the Awards that carry these words in their title, but also to the others, for sport, the arts, scientific research, literature and social sciences are all born of the need to communicate with and understand our fellow men, to share feelings, experiences and projects. In short, they are activities born to unite, not to force apart. Great human undertakings have blossomed out of union and cooperation. Union is not the same as uniformity; it is rather the sum total of variety, the harmony of different efforts, of contrasting ideas that coexist, blend and mutually enrich. If a single little boy or a single little girl somewhere in the world, in some forgotten village in the mountains of some distant country, watches this ceremony and feels the urge to one day be as generous, as brilliant and as wise as those who honour us by accepting our Awards, then our efforts and dedication will have acquired meaning. We could then state that this has undoubtedly been a beautiful evening, an evening replete with hope. Thank you. “The first stages of the 21st century and the third millennium of our era have ushered in a fascinating world that is witnessing change at breakneck speed, of unforeseeable results, plagued by uncertainty and risks.”