More than 25,000 letters supporting the 200 candidatures presented so far have been received.

More than 150 public figures are to make up the eight juries (one for each category) in charge of granting the Prince of Asturias Awards and are to begin convening next 20th May. This year marks the Awards´ twenty eighth edition.

Deliberations are to take place at the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo according to the following schedule:

MAY
Arts:......................................................20th and 21st May
International Cooperation:......................27th and 28th May

JUNE
Scientific and Technical Research:.........3rd and 4th June
Communication and Humanities:..........10th and 11th June
Social Sciences:..................................17th and 18th June
Letters:...............................................24th and 25th June

SEPTEMBER
Sports:........................................2nd and 3rd September
Concord:....................................9th and 10th September

The members of the corresponding Jury will be holding a press conference on the first day of meetings at 10.30 am, right before the deliberations are set to begin. The Jury´s decision is to be made public at 12 pm on the second day of deliberations of each of the juries.

The Prince of Asturias Awards are to be presented this October at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo in a grand ceremony that will be presided by Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Asturias.

Each of the eight Prince of Asturias Awards consists of fifty thousand euros, a sculpture specially made by Joan Miró that symbolizes these Awards, a diploma and an insignia.

Candidatures presented
To date a total of 200 candidatures from forty-three countries have been received at the Prince of Asturias Foundation's offices. More than 25.000 letters supporting the candidatures have also been received, whose senders include heads of State and prime ministers from several countries, as well as academic organizations and public figures from worldwide political, social and cultural milieus.

Candidatures that have been presented at Spanish diplomatic representations and consulates abroad must be added to this number, as well as the candidatures that the members of the juries themselves may put forward before the start of their deliberations. The deadline for the Prince of Asturias Awards for Concord and for Sports, whose corresponding juries will be meeting in September, is 25th July.