MADRID, 4 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
The president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Franco; the President of the Government of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres; and the president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), Raúl Chapado; have presented this Monday the first edition of the European ‘Off-Road’ of trail and mountain to be held in the municipality of El Paso (La Palma), from June 30 to July 3, an event “symbol of reconstruction” in the island after the eruption of the volcano.
The event, held at the CSD headquarters in Madrid, was also attended by Sergio Rodríguez, Mayor of the El Paso City Council; Dobromir Karamarinov, president of European Athletics (EA), by video call; María Nayra Castro, counselor of the Island Council of La Palma responsible for Finance and Human Resources; and Omar Hernández, Councilor for Tourism of the El Paso City Council and local manager of the European Championship in El Paso.
“I celebrate the development of this sporting event as a symbol of the reconstruction of La Palma. I thank the European federation for selecting El Paso and for maintaining confidence in the organizing team despite the cruelty that the volcano has exhibited in the In recent months, sheltered by the RFEA, I commend the work of Raúl Chapado at the head of the organization,” Franco assured during the ceremony at the CSD headquarters.
The Secretary of State for Sport stressed that this will be an “important and novel” sporting event, after “so much suffering carried with that dignity” for La Palma. “You deserve this and much more. Sport is supportive, and we try to reciprocate that effort you have made and that you still have to help people on the island,” he added.
“The Canary Islands are an incomparable setting for practicing sports. Nowhere in the world is there the possibility of practicing a sport at 3,000 meters and at sea level, on the same day and any day of the year. The CSD firmly believes in the ability of Canary Islands to be the pole of attraction of high-level sport, we will always be for you. Because you do it a lot and well, “said Franco.
In addition, he insisted that this sporting event shows that Spain “is always up to the occasion.” “Spain will once again establish itself as a world reference for the organization of major sporting events. El Paso will give one more example of what Spain is capable of doing with the world of sport,” he reflected.
PLATED: “THIS EVENT WILL SHOW THE RESILIENCE OF THE PALM”
For his part, Chapado insisted that “organizing this championship is more important than organizing an event.” “It is to show the resilience of a territory, which wants to show the world that you can enjoy its tourism, gastronomy and its people. It is also an internal message, it is time for recovery,” he said.
“Sport is a transversal tool that teaches a new model of innovation connected to tourism and digitization. That leaves an everlasting legacy, that invites the youngest to practice sport.
We are going to make not only a successful sporting event, but also a social one, with a great legacy. Together we will celebrate a great sporting and organizational success,” he stressed.
A few words reinforced by the president of EA, who was “very excited to celebrate this event in El Paso.” “We believed in the professionalism and candidacy of El Paso, with hard work after the eruption. We are very happy to accompany El Paso on this journey. Thank you for making it possible despite all the difficulties. It is important to send a signal to the more than 2,000 runners. I wish the best of luck to the participants and workers of the event”, commented Karamarinov.
TORRES: “IT WILL BE A COMBINATION BETWEEN SPORTS AND NATURE”
“This event unites sport with the beauty of nature, of a unique landscape in La Palma, a combination of sport and nature. It seemed that this moment of the new normality would not come, but this time we have taken it well to not let it go. We must be responsible in the face of the most serious pandemic, to which is added this illegitimate invasion of Ukraine,” said Ángel Víctor Torres.
The president of the Canary Islands lamented the economic and social consequences of the volcano, “the largest in all of Europe”. “He has made the island better known, and that we are rebuilding. Hopefully soon we can say that it is rebuilt, we are in a process that is not easy.
Today it is a recognized island, for its poise and its nobility. We have to give him back all the example he has given us. They have known how to resist misfortune, with a good pride, “he added.
Thus, the event will start on Thursday, June 30 with the Rise to the Stars. On Friday, July 1, the official European ‘Off-Road’ program will open with the Uphill Mountain Race, while on Saturday, July 2, the Trail Races will be held, and on Sunday, July 3, the finishing touch will be with the Up & Down Mountain Races.