Berlin, Feb 1 (IANS): The Laureus World Sports Awards, which celebrate the outstanding achievements of sports persons around the world, will return to Europe in 2016. The ceremony will be hosted in Germany for the first time, in Berlin on April 18.

The awards will be attended by the biggest names in sports, both past and present. The event returns to Europe since 2012 London after taking place in leading sports cities around the world, including Rio de Janeiro and Shanghai.

Consisting of seven categories, the awards will celebrate the achievements of outstanding athletes from 2015, crowning the sportsman, sportswoman, action, disability athlete and team of the year. It will also recognise the greatest sporting breakthrough of 2015 as well as choosing the most impressive comeback.

Following on from the nominations voting, by a panel of 2,000 of the world's leading sports media, the winners will be selected in a secret ballot of the sports jury - 55 members of the Laureus World Sports Academy. The winners will receive a Laureus statuette exclusively produced by Cartier.

"I am delighted that the 2016 Laureus Awards is to be staged in Berlin. Our foundation has been very active in spreading the Sport for Good message since 2001 and it's exciting to be bringing the awards to Germany for the first time," Edwin Moses, double Olympic gold medallist and chairman of the Laureus World Sports Academy, said.