It will be the first non-Anglo-Saxon in history
MADRID, 11 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish José Luis Álvarez-Sala Walther has been elected president of the World Croquet Federation, and becomes the first non-Anglo-Saxon in history, as announced by the Spanish Croquet Federation in a statement.
A doctor of recognized international prestige, the new president was one of the founders of the Spanish Croquet Federation in 1994 and was at the head of it for almost thirty years. Under his coordination, croquet has experienced notable growth in Spain, especially in the last decade.
Álvarez-Sala Walther will serve as president of the World Croquet Federation (WCF) from January 1 and for the next four years, after being the candidate with the most votes of the three who presented their candidacy last November.
Álvarez-Sala obtained 36 votes compared to 25 for the American Jeff Soo and two for the South African Andrew Hobbs. “I am very happy, especially that a Spaniard has been chosen since it is the first time that this position leaves the Anglo-Saxon sphere, but at the same time I already feel the weight of responsibility,” commented Álvarez-Sala.
Of the 29 countries that currently make up the WCF, only 18 have the right to vote, but not all have the same number of votes, so the result is especially notable if you take into account that 13 have voted for Spain, four for the United States. United States and one to South Africa.
Among those that supported the Spanish candidacy are all the countries of Continental Europe, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Mexico and Australia, one of the 'heavy weights' within the Council whose vote was fundamental.
“The triumph has been based on the tireless work that has been done by the Spanish Croquet Federation (FEC) for almost 30 years to promote and develop croquet in our country. We have gone from being just over 500 players in 2015, to more than 2,500 this year and we have 32 affiliated clubs, many of them with two or even three and even four courses,” he indicated.
Among the objectives currently proposed is to ensure that the WCF becomes part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and that croquet is once again included among the Olympic sports, as it was in Paris in 1900. In addition, promoting the development of croquet in Continental Europe and Latin America, as well as supporting and growing the sport in the countries where it is already consolidated.
José Luis Álvarez-Sala was one of the nine founders of the Spanish Croquet Federation in 1994 and held its presidency from its creation until April of this year. As of January 1, he will combine his responsibility at the head of the WCF with his work as a pulmonologist at the San Carlos Clinical Hospital and professor of Medicine at the Complutense University of Madrid.