These exclude nominations made through consulates and embassies and those for Sports and Concord Award categories, which have a 27th July deadline.

More than two hundred candidatures from over thirty-nine countries across the five continents have been nominated for this year´s Prince of Asturias Awards, now being held for the twenty-seventh time.

The nomination period closed at 2 p.m. today, Friday 16th. Figures will be swelled during the coming weeks by nominations made at Spanish embassies and consulates abroad, as well as by candidatures proposed by the members of the Juries for each category, who have until two days before the Jury is convened.

Nominations for Sports Concord and Awards must be in by 27th July, as the corresponding Jury meeting will take place in September.

The bulk of the nominations have been received at the Foundation´s headquarters by fax, e-mail, post and courier services.

Over hundred and fifty public figures, each one an expert in one of the categories, make up the eight Juries (one for each of Awards) that will begin their deliberations in Oviedo towards the end of June.

The Prince of Asturias Awards presentation ceremony will be held at Oviedo´s Campoamor Theatre this autumn. The gala ceremony is to be presided by H.R.H. the Prince of Asturias.

There are eight Award categories: Communication and Humanities, Arts, Letters, Social Sciences, Technical and Scientific Research, International Cooperation, Sports and Concord. Each is intended to "acknowledge the scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work in the international milieu done by individuals, teams or institutions," and candidatures should meet the requirement of "being outstandingly exemplary and of acknowledged international standing."

Each Prince of Asturias Award carries with it a cash prize of fifty thousand euros, the sculpture commissioned from Joan Miró to symbolise the Awards, a diploma and an insignia.