Prince of Asturias Awards 1981–2014. Speeches - page 533

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P
rince
of
A
sturias
A
wards
1981-2014. S
peeches
Speech XXXIV
On 24th September 1980, a small group of Asturians created our foundation, the Prince of Asturias
Foundation. It took place in a formal ceremony held in this city, under the presidency of my
parents, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía.
They were times of uncertainty and concern, but above all of special enthusiasm and hope;
they were times when we dreamed of concord and freedom. The aim of the prime movers of this
initiative was to take up these feelings, inspired by the broad and generous course laid out by the
recently approved Constitution.
The Prince of Asturias Awards thus came into being with the aim of creating bonds between
the heir to the Crown and the Principality and of establishing a commitment to culture and
humanism. They came into being to thank and pay tribute to those who make sacrifices to create
a better world. They came into being, in short, to distinguish those who wish to make life an act of
continuous creation.
One year later —one that was, moreover, to be especially impressed on my memory—, while
still a child, I presented the first Awards and gave my first speech in public in this very theatre.
And thus, supported by the power of dreams and eager hope, convinced that there is nothing that
courageous hearts cannot fully achieve, we have pressed on year after year.
Here, I listened —we listened— to masterful lessons, lucid reflections that encourage the spirit
of knowing how to comprehend; poets who have sung to freedom, to life. We have borne witness to
brave, sincere words of commitment. Each year, I have been deeply touched as I —as we all— have
heard teachings and ideas that have shaped and enriched my life; and surely that of many others.
Since then we have followed a long and fruitful course. Thirty-four years have passed,
during which the hours of serenity have been few. Nevertheless, we have tried not to fall into the
temptation of taking the easy path, of giving way to banality, impatience or dismay. We have made
no concession to routine or complacency.
For all these reasons, you will all understand how moved I
am to return here today as King, to present these Awards and to
preside over this ceremony. You will all understand how much
gratitude I feel deep in my heart, how many unforgettable
memories and sentiments reside deep inside me. You will
all understand the care and dedication The Queen and I put
into raising our daughters, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and
Princess Sofía, so that a commitment such as ours to this noble
cause and all that it entails might grow within them, as well.
And so, on this most special occasion, I wish to thank the many, many people who have helped
us, those who have worked with diligence and conviction, the Trustees and Patrons, the Juries, the
media and, of course, the people of Asturias, who welcome us so affectionately each time we visit
Asturias.
We also thank Queen Sofía, whose support for us has never faltered during all these years. And
above all, I wish to thank our Laureates, who accompany us here today in this ceremony ennobling
it with their presence. They bring to mind, yet another year, its deep, true meaning; and I will now
address my words to them.
The American architect Frank Gehry has been granted the 2014 Award for the Arts. The artistic
vision, creative force and beauty with which he executes his projects have always stood out in his
work. In Spain, the building of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao constituted a unique event;
not only for its spectacular beauty, but also for the transformational effect it had on the city. We
associate Gehry’s name and work with light, with the lustre of new materials; we associate them
“Supported by the power of dreams and
eager hope, convinced that there is nothing
that courageous hearts cannot fully achieve,
we have pressed on year after year.”
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