An award, sometimes called a distinction, is given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field.
The recipient is often awarded to an individual, a student, athlete or representative of a group of people, be it an organisation, a sports team or a whole country.
It can also be a token object such as a certificate, diploma, championship belt, trophy or plaque.
The award may also be accompanied by a title of honor, and an object of direct cash value, such as prize money or a scholarship.
Awards for sports tournaments often take the form of cups, following a tradition harking back to the ancient Greek tripod given to winners in athletic contests.