“We will do everything possible to organize the next America's Cup of sailing again, we have it very well on track,” stressed the president of the CSD
“I understand the concern about losing the Grand Prix in Montmeló, but, for the first time, there is an alternative project from Madrid,” he warned.
BARCELONA, 4 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), Víctor Francos, stated this Monday that the Government of Spain “has done its homework” with Barcelona and Catalonia, that it will do “everything possible” so that Barcelona, host in 2024, to host the next edition of the America's Cup sailing again and asked for “firm involvement” so that the Camp Nou can host the 2030 World Cup.
During the talk 'The importance of Sport in the reputation of Spain in the World', at the Círculo Ecuestre de Barcelona, Víctor Francos highlighted the “magnet” that Barcelona and Catalonia must represent to host major sporting events. “We are in a moment of sporting excellence. I think we are doing our homework with Barcelona and Catalonia. For them to once again position themselves as organizers of major events we need everyone's help,” he said.
In this sense, Víctor Francos recalled that the Government of Spain will settle the America's Cup sailing with a non-refundable investment of 23 million euros. “The Government of Spain will do everything possible so that Barcelona can organize the next one. Barcelona and Catalonia cannot let this moment pass. Whoever wins, what better place to repeat in Barcelona. It is a fantastic place and some serious institutions have been found. We have it very well on track,” he said.
For the president of the CSD, the fact that Spain can host the World Cup in 2030 is news that fills him “with pride”, but he is not satisfied with it and revealed that they are working to have the 2031 Ryder Cup held in Catalonia, the Athletics World Cup in 2029 and Rugby World Cup between 2031 and 2035.
“In the World Cup I have been very demanding. We need firm involvement if we want Catalonia to have a name in that World Cup, and one of the references is Barcelona and Catalonia,” added Víctor Francos, for whom sport is “much more than scarf or attending an event and much more than football.
“THE 'NEGREIRA CASE' SEEMS SERIOUS TO ME”
Francos, who runs on a treadmill in the mornings before going to his office at the Council, would like to play soccer, but he confessed that he was “very bad” and prefers “shovel and racket sports.” “Yes, I'm from Real Madrid, but I like football and I know how to recognize what the rest of the teams are doing. I'm not a fan. I like to poke my culé collaborators,” he admitted.
Regarding the 'Negreira case', he reiterated that “it seems fatal” that a football club like FC Barcelona pays the 'number two' of the referees. “It seems serious to me, but it is in the field of justice. I am convinced that it is not demonstrable that any referee has been paid, but it is not ethical to do so,” he said.
Regarding 'sociological Madridismo', he said he does not know very well what it is, although he does not believe that there is “any current 'per se' that is favorable to any club.” “Barça and Madrid are the ones that can complain the least depending on what things,” he said.
In his opinion, it was more complicated to manage the COVID-19 crisis than the 'Rubiales case' due to the “feeling of giving everything for 20 hours so that 800 people die the next day.” “They are on different levels than the unpleasant performance of Luis Rubiales. I did not see it. I was with the minister on the grass and 60 meters away and, at no time, were we aware of the kiss. I began to realize the situation upon arriving at the airport There I receive a first call from Minister Iceta,” he explained.
Then, the former president of the RFEF Luis Rubiales told them that there had been “a bit of trouble” over a kiss. “I didn't understand anything until I saw the images 14 hours later. The kiss is unacceptable and the touching is indecorous. In addition to the fact that what happened was serious, the subsequent management was done poorly. The evaluation of the facts with a sincere apology would not have been the same,” he analyzed.
“MINISTRY? WE HAVE A VERY POWERFUL INSTRUMENT WHICH IS THE CSD”
Pending the final approval of the new Ministerial Order for the holding of electoral processes in the federations, including those for the presidency of the RFEF in the first quarter of 2024, the Government is working to make a “more transparent system ” and in which “the nebula of delegated votes is not left.”
Francos is seduced by the idea of his own Ministry of Sports, although he recalled that it came before depending on Culture and now on Education “if it does not exist in any.” “We depended on the Ministry of the Presidency. The name does not do the trick. We have a very powerful instrument in which very specialized people work, which is the CSD,” he indicated.
Faced with the prospect of the Paris Olympic Games, he declared himself “dangerously optimistic.” “I think we will win more medals than in Barcelona'92. Alejandro Blanco told me that, for the first time, he was convinced that we will win more medals than in Barcelona'92. The Olympic athletes are in a sweet moment,” he highlighted.
Furthermore, for the Secretary of State for Sports, women's sports have taken “a very important leap, sought and worked for, but unsuspected for a long time.” “Two Olympic Games ago, no one would have given a damn for the women's team to have fought for medals. And it's not just soccer, it's Carolina Marín…”, he argued.
F1: THE “ALTERNATIVE” OF MADRID
Likewise, the president of the CSD alerted the Generalitat that a rival has emerged for hosting a formula one grand prix. “There is a competition known by the Generalitat and expressed by a project in Madrid. The project presented by IFEMA, which is semi-urban, is competing with Barcelona. I understand Catalonia's concern about losing the formula one grand prix,” he warned.
This is how he set the example between Barcelona and Malaga when they chose to host the America's Cup for sailing. “You can't choose between the father and the mother. For the first time there is an alternative to Barcelona. My name is Víctor Francos and not Stefano Domenicali and formula one is a private business that sells its rights to whoever offers a better offer, and not not only of an economic nature but also of communication, infrastructure…”, he commented.