This Monday night will be a gala for Brazilian Olympic sports. Starting at 18:30 p.m., at the Maracanãzinho gymnasium, the Brazilian Olympic Awards will take place, bringing together the country's elite athletes. Among them are Diego Hypólito and Marina Canetti, both Flamengo fans, who will be honored for their performances in their respective sports. Diego was named athlete of the year in gymnastics, and Marina won the trophy for best water polo player of 2009.

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The choice of the Best Athlete of 2009 can be made by the public, through the website www.premiobrasilolimpico2009.com.br, until moments before the announcement, scheduled for 21 p.m. The men's competitors are swimmer Cesar Cielo, gymnast Diego Hypolito, and sailor Torben Grael. The women's competition includes marathon swimmer Poliana Okimoto, taekwondo fighter Natália Falavigna, and judoka Sarah Menezes. César Cielo is attempting the title for the second time, having won the trophy in 2008. Last year's women's winner was long jumper Maurren Maggi.

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This will be the 11th edition of the event, promoted and organized by the Brazilian Olympic Committee. The selection of the year's best athletes in each of the 42 sports, as well as the athletes competing for the Best Athlete of the Year trophy, was made by an electoral college comprised of journalists, sports directors, current and former athletes, and sports personalities, based on a shortlist submitted to the COB by each Brazilian Olympic Confederation, in addition to the Brazilian Futsal Confederation, since the sport was part of the program for the 2009 Lusophony Games in Lisbon.

The Brazilian Olympic Awards have already established themselves as the biggest celebration in Brazilian sports. In addition to the best athletes of the year and the best athletes in each of the 42 sports, the Brazilian Olympic Awards will award the trophy for best coach of the year to Renato Araújo, coach of gymnast Diego Hypólito, and Ricardo Cintra, coach of swimmer Poliana Okimoto. Brett Hawke, coach of Cesar Cielo, will also be honored by the COB. As nominated by the Brazilian Paralympic Committee, the best Paralympic athletes are Daniel Dias and Josiane Lima. Walquíria Campelo will receive the trophy for best Paralympic coach.

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The COB will also award the Adhemar Ferreira da Silva Trophy to athlete Joaquim Cruz, Olympic champion in the 800m at Los Angeles in 1984. This trophy is presented to former athletes who embody the legacy of Adhemar, Brazil's first two-time Olympic champion. Also nominated by the COB, the IOC Trophy - Sport and the Fight Against Doping will be awarded to physician Eduardo De Rose. For their personal commitment throughout the Rio 2016 bid process, a special tribute will also be paid to Sports Minister Orlando Silva, Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral, and Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. For his personal commitment to the campaign that confirmed Rio de Janeiro as host of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, President Lula will receive the 2009 Olympic Personality Trophy.

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"Brazilian sport has much to celebrate in 2009, especially winning the 2016 Olympic Games, in which President Lula played an intense and decisive role. This trophy is a way to eternalize our gratitude for everything he has done for Brazilian Olympic sport," said Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee.