Speaking at the awards ceremony of the Laureus World Sports Academy, President Vladimir Putin stressed that preserving the health of the nation is the states's one indisputable priority. The President said this policy was commended by the international sports community and proved in large measure responsible for Sochi's victory in the battle for the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At the gala reception in honor of the prize winners, Vladimir Putin thanked the Laureus Academy for arranging to have the awards ceremony take place in Russia.
The Laureus World Sports Academy awards are the most important annual international awards honouring the world's greatest athletes. The jury that selects the winners is composed of members of the World Sports Academy.
The two top athletes in 2007 were tennis stars Roger Federer and Justine Henin. The Laureus Academy awards were made in seven different categories. Among the nominees were Russian pole vaulter Elena Isinbaeva.
Ukrainian Sergei Bubka received the Special Prize for outstanding athletic achievements and contribution to the development of sport.
Olympic champion Russian gymnast Alexei Nemov, along with outstanding Formula-1 racer Mika Hakkinen, became new members of the Laureus World Sports Academy.
Laureus is an international organisation composed of the Laureus World Sports Awards, which is an international organising committee that chooses the winners, the Laureus World Sports Academy and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.