Laureus World Sports AwardsLaureus World Sports Awards
Context
The India women's national cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, has been nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year Award 2026 after winning their first ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
About Laureus World Sports Awards
The Laureus World Sports Awards are among the most prestigious international honours in sports, often referred to as the “Oscars of sport.”
Establishment
Founded: 2000
Organised by: Laureus World Sports Academy and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
Purpose: To recognise the best athletes and teams across the world for sporting excellence in the previous year.
Selection process
Nominees are shortlisted by a global panel of sports journalists, broadcasters and editors.
Winners are chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy, consisting of about 70+ legendary sportspersons from around the world.
Major award categories
Important categories include:
Laureus World Sportsman of the Year
Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year
Laureus World Team of the Year
Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year
Laureus World Comeback of the Year
Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability
Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year
Laureus Sport for Good Award
Laureus World Team of the Year
This category recognises the best-performing team across all sports globally during the year.
Past winners include teams like:
FC Barcelona (football)
Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team (Formula 1)
Spain national football team
Chicago Cubs.
Indian nominees in major categories
A few notable Indian nominees include:
Vinesh Phogat – nominated in 2019 (World Comeback of the Year)
Neeraj Chopra – nominated in 2022 (Breakthrough of the Year)
Rishabh Pant – nominated in 2025 (Comeback of the Year).
The award ceremony will be held at **Cibeles Palace in Madrid on 20 April 2026.
Prelims practice MCQs
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Laureus World Sports Awards:
The awards were established in the year 2000.
Winners are selected by a panel of global sports journalists.
The awards recognise sporting achievements across multiple disciplines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation:
The Laureus World Sports Awards were established in 2000. Nominees are shortlisted by sports journalists, but winners are selected by the Laureus World Sports Academy, not journalists. Hence statement 2 is incorrect, while 1 and 3 are correct.
Q. The Laureus World Sports Awards are organised by which of the following organisations?
Laureus World Sports Academy
Laureus Sport for Good Foundation
International Olympic Committee
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation:
The awards are organised by the Laureus World Sports Academy and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not involved in organising these awards.