The World Trophy was established by Helms in 1939 to honour the foremost amateur athlete of each continent of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, North America, and South America.
[1] Australasian awards for 1896 to 1949 were decided by a Committee in Australasia established by the Foundation.
Members of the Committee were Sir Frank Beaurepaire (Chairman), and Messrs. Harold G. Alderson, Hugh R. Weir, Jack Metcalfe, Frank H. Pizzey, Hector de Lacy, Ern Cowley and R.J. McPherson (Secretary).
[2][3] After the initial Committee selection, amateur athletes were nominated by their own countries for consideration by the Foundation.
Winners were presented with a silver plaque and had their names added to the World Trophy that was located at the Helms Foundation and subsequently the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles (now known as the LA84 Foundation).