Alonso gets Spain's Prince of Asturias prize

Oviedo (Spain):

Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso was one of eight people to receive this year's Prince of Asturias prize. The 24-year-old Alonso from Oviedo is the youngest person ever to the receive one of the prestigious awards. The awards honour work in such areas as science, art, communications, literature, international cooperation, as well as sport. The F1 driver won the Prince of Asturias sports award for the "years of sacrifice" he has spent to reach the peak of his sport and become "an example for the world's youth", organisers said. Alonso, who is also the youngest person and the first Spaniard to win the Formula One title and the first Spaniard, was greeted by thousands of fans outside the Campoamor Theater. Previous sports award winners include American sprinter Carl Lewis, German tennis player Steffi Graf and Moroccan runner Hicham El Guerrouj. The prizes, announced throughout the year, include a euro 50,000 ($60,000) checque and a sculpture by Catalan artist Joan Miro. The award ceremony takes place in Oviedo, capital of the Asturias region, from which Prince Felipe takes his title. Other winners included former European Parliament President Simone Veil and Portuguese neurologist Antonio Damasio. (AP)