Hollywood actors, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, have won an award at a special Welsh concert in New York on Monday evening. The ceremony was part of a star-studded event at Sony Hall in Times Square, which was set to mark Wales' upcoming game against USA in Qatar's World Cup next week.
During the event, the pair received a special international award from the people of Wales. Since purchasing the Welsh Football club Wrexham AFC, the actors have used their global celebrity status to promote Wales and the Welsh language.
To recognise their contribution to putting Wales on a global platform, S4C partnered up with the Welsh Government, the Football Association of Wales and Urdd to present the duo with the "Diolch y Ddraig" (Dragon Award), which represented a "national appreciation for the sensitivity and respect shown by Reynolds and McElhenney to Wales".
Read more: The full video for Wales' World Cup song by Dafydd Iwan has been released and it is epic
After receiving the award, both Rob and Ryan took to the stage to share their thoughts. In Welsh, Rob McElhenney began his speech with 'noswaith dda', which translates to 'good evening'. He then added: "Ryan and I would like to thank the Welsh Government, the Football Association of Wales, S4C, Urdd and all of our friends in Wales for tonight's honour.
"We accept this with the full recognition that this last two years have been the real honour." Ryan Reynolds then went on to say: "Rob and I, first and foremost, we're storytellers, and we are so humbled by the fact that the people of Wrexham and the Nation of Wales have entrusted us to tell your story."
Rob then turned to his Wrexham AFC co-owner and asked: "Do you want to try some Welsh, Ryan?". The Deadpool actor was keen and said: "How about "Cymru am byth!" [Wales forever!] and up the town! Up the town forever, Rob."
In response, people took to social media to congratulate and share their appreciation for the two. On Twitter, Luke Ellis said: "Diolch Bois, please don't stop telling our nation's story". Urdd Gobaith Cymru also tweeted and said: "A special award for special people! Congratulations Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney! A big thank you for helping to present Wales to a global audience.
"A huge DIOLCH to Rob and Ryan for treating Wales with such care, and for helping introduce us to a new global audience!" Twitter user, Lucy Kebell, wrote: "I've said it before but I'll say it again... how lucky are we that this pair found Wrexham AFC and do so much for Wrexham, Wales and the Welsh language".
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