PRAGUE, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The best male and best female athletes on five continents were honored for their exceptional sporting achievements in 2017, as ANOC Awards 2017 gathers 205 NOCs in Prague at the Forum Karlin Thursday night.
The fourth edition of the event, organised by the Czech Olympic Committee, showcased the power of sports to unite different nations and cultures, and reflected the ANOC's gratitude toward the NOCs for its commitment and dedication throughout the year.
The awards ceremony was broadcast by Czech TV, distributed to broadcasters all around the world, and streamed live on the ANOC YouTube Channel.
The ANOC Awards winners for best male and best female athlete from each continent were:
Best Female Athlete from Africa 2017: Farida Osman (Egypt)
Best Male Athlete from Africa 2017: Chad Le Clos (South Africa)
Best Female Athlete from the Americas 2017: Yulimar Rojas (Venezuela)
Best Male Athlete from the Americas 2017: Trinidad and Tobago 4 x 400 team
Best Female Athlete from Asia 2017: Yu Song (China)
Best Male Athlete from Asia 2017: Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar)
Best Female Athlete from Europe 2017: Sarah Sjöström (Sweden)
Best Male Athlete from Europe 2017: Marcel Hirscher (Austria)
Best Female Athlete from Oceania 2017: Sarah Goss (New Zealand)
Best Male Athlete from Oceania 2017: Robbie Manson (New Zealand)
Three individual honors were also presented: Outstanding Performance for Nadia Comaneci (Romania), Outstanding Lifetime Achievement for Julio Maglione (Uruguay) and Contribution to the Olympic Movement for Michael Fennell (Jamaica).
"It has been another fantastic year of sport all around the world. We have been lucky enough to witness some incredible sporting moments. The athletes and their respective NOCs and International Federations are at the very heart of the Olympic Movement and it is their dedication that we see year-on-year that helps create the amazing memories we have celebrated tonight," said ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.
ANOC President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah also extended thanks to the Czech Olympic Committee for the ANOC awards, and gratitude to the world's NOCs for their contributing to the Olympic Movement.
The award winners were decided in September by the ANOC Jury, comprised of representatives from each of the Continental Associations, the ANOC Athletes' Commission Chair, ASOIF President, AIOWF President and ANOC Secretary General.
