The 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards, held on April 20 in Madrid, once again brought together the world’s top athletes while highlighting a message that goes beyond results: sport must be played with integrity, respect and fairness.

Our CIFP Council Member Cheche Vidal's first of the six articles is titled: “The Character of Champions: Ilia Malinin, Virtuosity Beyond Gold.”Ilia Malinin’s sportsmanship after defeat constitutes a compelling case to be considered by the International Committee for Fair Play. It is a living expression of what Fair Play represents today: excellence with honor, virtuosity with integrity, and the courage to remain fully human in the most demanding moments of competition.

Important and touching recognition for our Honorary President by the French Minister for Sport.

Our CIFP Council Member Cheche Vidal has created a six-article series as the result of systematizing and exploring how AI can assist humans in the evaluation of ethical excellence in athletic performances at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games — as part of the CIFP/IOC Fair Play Award process. The series will also be published weekly on the International Fair Play website. The first of the six articles is titled: “The Character of Champions: Ilia Malinin, Virtuosity Beyond Gold.”

On this International Women’s Day, the International Fair Play Committee celebrates the incredible contributions of women to the world of sport. We remain dedicated to a future where every woman and girl, regardless of geography, has the fundamental access to play, compete, and embrace a healthy lifestyle. Fair play starts with equal opportunity.