Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
It's around this time of year that various media organisations start trotting out their awards for the past year's most successful/amusing/catastrophic events, sports or otherwise.
No matter what the award, athletes will have prepared a gracious acceptance speech thanking the fans/media/colleagues for the votes cast that propelled them to victory. But, which award do they truly covet the most?
It has to be the Laureus World Sports Awards.
This is an award that transcends sports and is voted for, not just by peers, but by living legends.
The shortlist of six nominees in each category is compiled by elite sports journalists covering over 100 countries.
The winner is then chosen from this list by a Sports Academy of 46 past greats - the elite of the elite. Many current athletes are grateful even to be nominated for the award - yet to make it onto this academy requires more than just a single world title or record.
Those voting this year for the world's top sportmen and women include Jack Nicklaus, Daley Thompson, Emerson Fittipaldi, Kapil Dev and Marvelous Marvin Hagler - multiple winners in their chosen field that have dominated their peers for years.
At the inaugural Laureus World Sports Awards in 2000, patron, President Nelson Mandela said: "Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can awaken hope where there was previously only despair."
This has become the philosophy of Laureus; the driving force behind its work. The Laureus Academy members volunteer their services as global ambassadors for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, which was set up to promote the use of sport as a tool for social change.
The foundation addresses social challenges through a worldwide programme of sports-related community development initiatives. Since its inception Laureus has raised 35 million Euros (around BD17m) to improve the lives of millions of young people.
Nominees will be announced in early January and will be invited to attend a glittering Ceremony to be held for the second year in Abu Dhabi on February 7 thanks to the support of Aabar Investments PJS, host partner for the event.
The Awards include (last year's winners in brackets):
Sportsman of the Year (Usain Bolt - Athletics)
Sportswoman of the Year (Serena Williams - Tennis)
Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year (Natalie Du Toit - Swimming)
Action Sportsperson of the Year (Stephanie Gilmore - Surfing)
Team of the Year (Brawn GP - F1)
Breakthrough of the Year (Jenson Button - F1)
Comeback of the Year (Kim Clijsters - Tennis)
Sport for Good Award (Dikembe Mutombo - Basketball)
Lifetime Achievement Award (Nawal El Moutawakel - Athletics)
