“The soccer players have managed to move the federative structures,” highlights the minister during the event ‘Sexism in sport’
MADRID, 24 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Miquel Iceta, stressed this Tuesday that “institutions” both public and private “cannot” lose pace in the fight against machismo and gender inequalities, advocating for “an effort that “it challenges us all” since the ‘Rubiales case’ broke out in the world of football at the end of last August.
“Without a doubt a revolution has begun in sport,” commented Iceta during the ‘Sexism in Sport’ event, organized by ‘Público’ in collaboration with the Higher Sports Council (CSD). “But we institutions cannot lose our rhythm,” the minister highlighted in his opening speech at the event.
“And that is the role of the clubs, the CSD and society as a whole. Society has to react and be permanently at the side of our athletes,” Iceta continued. “In my position I have learned that if there is will, if there is courage and if there is desire, you win,” he added from the Samaranch Room.
In this sense, Iceta appealed to the new generations to “really pay attention to those references.” “But above all, they should aspire to become leaders of that change, of that important and joyful emergence of women in sports, which is going to bring us many victories and many joys,” she added.
“And therefore, encouraging them to do sports and feel happy doing sports, that’s what it’s all about,” said the minister in the moments before his speech. “It is a good time for us to meet and reflect on what has happened,” he began in front of dozens of attendees and journalists.
Thus, he described how he and his cabinet had found out about the non-consensual kiss that Luis Rubiales, then president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), gave the national team forward Jennifer Hermoso last summer during the trophy presentation. the final of the Women’s World Cup.
“One may feel a certain pity that sporting success has been obscured by the controversy surrounding it. But there is nothing that can obscure a success,” he said, later admitting his regret. “I felt angry because I thought they had stolen a magical moment from us. But then came that ‘#SeAcabó’, which is here to stay.
“Would we have reacted as a society without the victory? That’s what really worries me. If they hadn’t won the World Cup, wouldn’t we have learned that there is machismo in football?” Iceta reflected, highlighting that fighting against gender inequalities “is an effort that challenges us all.”
For this reason, the minister praised the recent signing between the members of the women’s team and Pedro Rocha, interim president of the RFEF, of the agreements reached a month ago in Oliva (Valencia). Through an event held in Las Rozas (Madrid), they formed the Joint Commission to promote women’s football.
“THE PLAYERS HAVE MANAGED TO MOVE THE FEDERATIONAL STRUCTURES”
“The players have also managed to move the federative structures,” praised the minister when analyzing how the presidential elections in the RFEF will reflect these changes in 2024. “There will be more democracy, more transparency and more women,” Iceta concluded.
Víctor Francos, president of the CSD, accompanied the minister in an event guided by María José Pintor, editor-in-chief of ‘Público’, and whose discussion was moderated by Virginia Pérez Alonso, director of ‘Público’. The documentary ‘Hijas de Cynisca’ (2019) was also broadcast, directed by Beatriz Carretero and starring some of the best Spanish athletes of the last 20 years.
The spotlight this Tuesday was on Dori Ruano, multiple cycling champion thanks to a long career; Paloma del Río, recognizable narrator on RTVE for almost four decades; Jennifer Pareja, legendary former water polo player, and Lucila Pascua, successful former basketball player and all-time top rebounder in the Women’s League.
But the documentary also reviews the obstacles experienced by other stars such as Amaya Valdemoro, winner of three WNBA rings with the Houston Comets; Ona Carbonell, winner of a silver and a bronze in the Olympic Games along with 34 other international medals; Lydia Valentín, triple Olympic medalist; or Almudena Cid, the only rhythmic gymnast with presence in four Olympic finals.