LONDON -- The year 2000 has been good to many of the world's top athletes. For a select few, it just got even better. The World Sports Awards 2000 announced the names of 75 finalists at a press conference in London on Wednesday. Athletes such as track star Marion Jones, golfing sensation Tiger Woods and F-1 champion Michael Schumacher made the final cut.
The WSA, a nonprofit organization based in Austria, burst onto the sporting scene last year when it honored nine Athletes of the Century. Some of the winners then included Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and Pele. The response to the awards ceremony in Vienna last November was so positive that event organizers decided to honor athletes on a yearly basis.
This time around, the WSA will honor 15 athletes in 15 different categories. The winners will be announced during a gala Jan. 16 at London's Royal Albert Hall. Separate awards will be presented for men and women in the following categories: ball sports, water sports, winter sports, extreme and adventure sports, individual sports (cycling, weightlifting, etc.), and track and field. A single award will be presented for soccer, combat sports and motor sports.