7
P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
Speech VIII
I once more have the honour of attending this solemn ceremony that now forms a lasting part of
the cultural manifestations of our nation, open toward the future.
A future that marks the onset of my own demands because, together with so many other
Spaniards of my generation, I am at the age in which to learn, expand my knowledge and prepare
myself to form part of the new times that are approaching.
With the modesty of a pupil, I confess that it is most satisfactory and instructive to have such
fine examples as those that emanate from the honoured experts who are with us here today.
The Awards that you receive are, evidently, a display of recognition for the work and creation
in the different activities to which you have dedicated your lives.
Yet the truth is that it is we who feel honoured to be able to enjoy, to be able to learn and to be
able to discover the lessons from the infinite worlds of culture, science and art in which you are
unparalleled and outstanding figures.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Olympic Games
held in Seoul and images from there are still fresh in my mind.
As a young person of my generation, I undoubtedly experienced
the same sensation as millions of young people the world over.
I felt admiration upon seeing so many athletes accomplishing
feats and pushing their physical abilities to the limit with such
praiseworthy sacrifice.
You are also the protagonists in an Olympiad of knowledge,
culture and spirit. You provide us with a lesson in effort, beauty
and generosity, which makes us feel more responsible each day.
By virtue of these successive manifestations of cognisance elucidated by the granting of these
increasingly prestigious Awards, Asturias has become a universal forum that illuminates horizons,
establishes points of inquiry and provides solutions.
It is befitting that I make reference to the future as an incitement that courses through the veins
of today’s youth.
Yet the future is not to be considered as a jump into the void, foolishness or an adventure
without return. The future is based on the past and is filled with energy from the present. You,
the recipients of these Awards, as creators, artists and thinkers, are those who must feed our
imagination so that the coming years do not startle us and so that humanity can make fuller and
more productive use of them.
May we know how to extract all of the message of vocation and self-sacrifice contained in your
works!
I too have a vocation. The vocation to serve Spain and the Spanish people in the tasks that
pertain to me. And a desire to serve others, something that I am very proud of.
Mr President of Costa Rica,
The vocation of Spain is solidarity with the countries of Ibero-America, whose fortunes are
our own. Your message, like the preceding statesmen who have previously honoured us in this
common homeland of culture and science constituted by this Foundation’s Awards, will not remain
in silence.
Your message is like a life-giving elixir. Take with you a greeting on my behalf for the youth of
Costa Rica that is shared by all Spaniards.
I express my thanks to Mr Samaranch for his presidency and my admiration goes out to his
important endeavour so that clean, pure and disinterested athletics, serve as a source of education
and harmony for the peoples of the world.
“ Yet the future is not to be considered as a
jump into the void, foolishness or an adventure
without return. The future is based on the past
and is filled with energy from the present.”
