Gasol brothers win Spanish sports prize
MADRID - Brothers Pau and Marc Gasol have been awarded Spain's Princess of Asturias prize for sports for their ''brilliant record'' playing basketball for Spain and their NBA teams.
The pair was recognized for their ''sporting standards'' as well as being ambassadors for ''the Spanish brand,'' the award foundation said in a statement on Wednesday.
Pau, aged 34, and Marc, 30, have won world and European championships, and two silver medals at the Olympics.
Pau plays for the Chicago Bulls, and Marc at the Memphis Grizzlies. They made history in February when they became the first brothers to start in the NBA All-Star game.
In 2013, the brothers created the Gasol Foundation to promote sport and healthy eating at schools in Los Angeles and Barcelona. They have worked with UNICEF.
The 50,000-euro ($55,600) award is one of eight Asturias prizes handed out annually by a foundation named for Crown Princess Leonor. Other categories include the arts, and scientific research.
The brothers have won the prize before, in 2006, when all of the Spain team that won the world title received the award.
The awards are presented each autumn in the northern city of Oviedo, capital of the Asturias region.