MADRID, 15 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
King Felipe VI claimed Spain on Wednesday as “a benchmark also in sport, a country committed to its athletes and to Olympism”, while showing his “deep pride” for the athletes who represented the country in the Games Tokyo 2020 last summer.
“In less than three years, we hope to be enjoying the Paris Olympic event. And we can only imagine that, in 2024, Spain will continue to show itself to the world as a benchmark in sport as well, as a country committed to its athletes and to the Olympism, “said Felipe VI during his speech at the Gala 2021 of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE).
The King celebrated being able to meet again in person with the Spanish athletes. “This meeting allows us to remember and share the milestones and satisfactions that this year has left us; and to say goodbye, definitely, in this context of celebration, this challenging and, at times, uncertain Olympic cycle,” he began.
The monarch valued the “innumerable hours of training, sacrifice and sleeplessness” of the athletes. “But also hope, confidence, self-esteem and triumphs, which has resulted in 17 medals and 42 diplomas that we celebrate today with true admiration,” he said.
“Novice champions, such as Alberto Ginés or Adriana Cerezo, take the witness of authentic references of our sport in different disciplines such as Chuso García Bragado, Carla Suárez, Raúl Entrerríos, Laia Palau or Pau Gasol, who have managed to build an exemplary career and a legacy full of successes, “he said.
“YOU ARE ALL A PRIDE FOR SPAIN, WITH A MEDAL OR WITHOUT IT”
Felipe VI was “deeply proud” of the more than 300 athletes who made up the expedition that traveled to Tokyo. “You are all a source of pride for Spain: with or without a medal, with or without a diploma. Those of you who have given the best of yourselves in the most demanding competition are an example to follow due to your deep respect for those Olympic values that, without a doubt They are also of life, “he said.
“The Olympians and the Paralympians – to the latter I want to send our greetings and also our recognition – who will represent us in Paris, like those who represented us in Tokyo, embody many certainties, virtues and benefits that are a reflection of a country and of its citizens. You are, therefore, a reflection of the best of our society, “he acknowledged.
In this sense, Felipe VI stressed the importance of the role of athletes in society. “They see you as a source of inspiration for your constant work, desire to improve, capacity for effort, perseverance and determination, for the desire to compete to give everything. As important as victory is honest competition and respect for the rival”, he claimed.
“That society with equal opportunities is the one you are building for the next generations. And for this, Olympism is, without a doubt, an extremely useful and powerful tool. It is also to transmit and instill values such as peace, tolerance. , respect and coexistence. Ultimately, it has the ability to transform the world and unite people, “he concluded.
Finally, the monarch vindicated teamwork and the Olympic spirit as values of sport. “The example that the Olympic spirit symbolizes should continue to inspire us to overcome most of our challenges,” he concluded.
ALEJANDRO BLANCO: “WE HAVE BUILT A COUNTRY FROM THE FOUNDATIONS OF SPORTS”
For his part, the president of the COE, Alejandro Blanco, highlighted the Olympism as “one of the most important cultural manifestations” and thanked the efforts of the Spanish athletes, “heirs of the Olympic victory.” “Behind each medalist there is a life story that deserves to be told, there will always be a space reserved in our hearts for you,” he valued.
“We can be proud to have built a legacy, to ensure a spectacular future in the coming decades. We have built a country from the foundations of sport, we have to be proud to be part of a heritage that transcends us all, Olympism. You are the best example, “emphasized Blanco.
To end his speech, the top leader of the COE demanded “to reaffirm the commitment, to continue dreaming and achieve the best legacy for successive generations.” “A Spain without complexes, the Spain that you represent,” he told the athletes.
At the Gala, the COE honored the medalists of the Tokyo 2020 Games, in which Spain achieved 17 metals (3 golds, 8 silvers and 6 bronzes). In the first place, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, was in charge of delivering the awards to the athletes who won the bronze medal, that is, the Granada-born cyclist David Valero, the tennis player Pablo Carreño, the athlete Ana Peleteiro , the sailors Joan Cardona, Jordi Xammar and Nico Rodríguez and the men’s handball team.
Immediately afterwards, the Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, distributed the recognitions to the winners of silver medals in the Japanese country: the taekwondo player Adriana Cerezo, the canoeists Maialen Chourraut and Teresa Portela, the gymnast Ray Zapata, the karate fighter Damián Quintero , K4-500 members Saúl Craviotto, Marcus Cooper, Carlos Arévalo and Rodrigo Germade, the women’s water polo team and the men’s soccer team.
Finally, Her Majesty and Queen Letizia presented the recognition diploma and a detail to the karate fighter Sandra Sánchez, the shooters, and the climber Alberto Ginés, Spanish athletes who won Olympic gold in Tokyo.