The World Economic Forum’s annual Alpine bash came to an end Friday with a gaffe-free speech from Donald Trump. Elsewhere there was plenty going on, but some things deserve special recognition.
They’re universally known as the Un-Crystal Awards. PwC counted the ballots. (Not really, on both counts.) Envelopes, please, for the inaugural Davos Awards …
POLITICAL AWARD: Easy one: Emmanuel Macron. Even Donald Trump loves him best of all. Sorry, Theresa. He’s now talked about as the leader of Europe. Sorry, Angela. The Frenchman’s star power kept a full room enraptured through a mostly tedious speech on Wednesday.
French President Emmanuel Macron attends the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) on January 24, 2018 in Davos, | Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
INCLUSION AWARD: The Intercontinental Davos for its 17 Swiss franc bottled water.
BUDGET AWARD: The Belvédère for using the cheapest supermarket hand soap in its bathrooms.
PARENTING AWARD: WEF supremo Klaus Schwab; he not only got Trump to the table but kept him from flipping it.
PRODUCT PLACEMENT AWARD: The sign that advertised both the “Life in a Day of a Refugee” exhibition and the drop-off zone for limousines.
ALSO-RAN BOOBY PRIZE: The Macron of 2016, Justin Trudeau, made a splashy trade announcement — but the Davosites are a fickle bunch and have moved on from the Canadian with the wavy hair.
GHOST OF DAVOS PAST CITATION: Angela Merkel felt like yesterday’s pol, soon set to join the parade of other grand has-beens who make the pilgrimage here (John Kerry, Al Gore, David Cameron, Tony Blair).
DESIGN AWARD: All the white tents and temporary buildings that became invisible in Monday’s snow-in.
PARTICIPATION AWARD: Europe for sending nearly all its national leaders, while saving the Forum from European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
INVISIBILITY CLOAK AWARD: Russia. Contributed nothing to any conversation.
POLITICAL LOST OPPORTUNITY AWARD: Narendra Modi. India wanted to make this Davos about itself and put its one-time star on the main stage. No one noticed.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the opening day the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018 annual meeting, on January 23, 2018 in Davos | Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images
BOTTOM CELEBRITY PRIZE: Will.i.am, who was last heard of on the music scene a decade ago, and appears everywhere at Davos. But WEF celebrity beggars can’t be choosers anymore — with go-to celebrities like Bono, Matt Damon and Leonardo di Caprio absent this year.
SPECIAL PRIZE: Trump accomplished everything he set out to for himself.
HEALTHY HEART AWARD: Joint winner: Swiss authorities for allowing private cars to cause so much traffic gridlock that walking was often the only sensible option; and the WEF for never having enough seats for participants to pass the time on.
SKIING AWARD: David Cameron, who injured just one of his associates on the slopes.