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WBC President Jose Sulaiman was presented the National Sports Award at the Federal House of Representatives on April 29 in Mexico City. The award was given in recognition of President Sulaiman's lifetime achievements in sports in Mexico and throughout the world. The National Commission of Youth and Sports nominated him for the award.
The ceremony was held in front of a capacity audience, and President Sulaiman was presented with a medal and a citation. Representatives of each of the six different parties of the House of Representatives gave speeches in honor of his 40 years in international sports. The representative of the political party PAN said that President Sulaiman, "Had transcended his time and left a mark of leadership in sports with dignity and honesty for future generations." The PRI party representative said, "In Mexico, boxing and Jose Sulaiman are synonymous." The other party representatives mentioned many of President Sulaiman's accomplishments in his 29 years as the leader of the WBC.
President Sulaiman said today, "In my acceptance speech, I dedicated this award to my father Elias, my mother Wasila, and my brother Hector, whom God has rested in peace, and accepted the award on behalf of all the boxers in Mexico and the world.
"I said that I hoped that the House of Representatives would take a new goal to fulfill the dreams of the Mexicans to bring back security and peace to our country, and to make it an example to the world, which is now living in rivers of blood. I said that I would devote the rest of my life to continue bringing safety to boxing, and to be of service to boxers, promoters, managers, commissioners, and all the boxing community of the world.
"It was one of the most touching moments of my life, very similar to the recognition extended to me by the United Nations in 1988 for my leadership in the sport's struggle against apartheid and racial discrimination. Those, I think, are the two most touching moments of my life."
Many former world champions attended the ceremony, including Julio Cesar Chavez, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Erik Morales, Jose Antonio Aguirre, Chiquita Gonzalez, Daniel Zaragoza, Ruben Olivares and others.
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Media Report (May 6, 2004) 
