Sidney Poitier is to receivean honorary Academy Award at this year's Oscar ceremony on March 24,2002.

The decision to give Poitierthe award was made by the board of governors of the Academy Of Motion PictureArts & Sciences "for his extraordinary performances and uniquepresence on the screen, and for representing the motion picture industry withdignity, style and intelligence throughout the world."

Poitier won a Best ActorAcademy Award - he was the first black actor to do so - for LiliesOf The Field in 1963. He was alsonominated in 1958 for The Defiant Ones. His other films include In The Heat Of The Night, Guess Who'sComing To Dinner, Blackboard Jungleand To Sir With Love.