MADRID, 8 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
LaLiga Genuine Santander presented its fifth season this Tuesday as an example that “sport is a fundamental tool for inclusion”, in a new edition that will start on November 11, 12 and 13, in Tarragona, with the incorporation of the Fundación Real Madrid and FC Andorra as great novelties.
“It is one of our most special sponsorships because of the satisfaction it generates. The satisfaction of seeing them play, of themselves, of their families, and of us, who enjoy watching them. It is a pride that from the first day we were able to get involved to give it more relevance , now with 44 teams. It is an example that sport is a fundamental tool for inclusion”, said the director of Media, Online Marketing and Sponsorships and Events of Banco Santander, Felipe Martín, during the presentation of the fifth edition of the competition.
The event was also attended by the CEO of LaLiga, Óscar Mayo; the ambassador of LaLiga Genuine Santander, Vicente del Bosque; LaLiga Icon and ex-soccer player Iker Casillas; and LaLiga ambassador Miguel Torres, as well as some of the players from this new season.
The former selector assured that these types of initiatives are “important for all the kids, to give them normality and visibility.” “We are all committed to making this work. Without looking at triumph and failure, it is vital. They have the obligation to get closer to the competition, it will make them better kids and much happier,” said Del Bosque.
Along the same lines, Iker Casillas confessed that LaLiga Genuine Santander is “wonderful”. “Hopefully it will be many more years. It is very nice that they are the protagonists. It is a competition, but what matters is living together. It is very positive for them, and we are all constantly learning,” he added.
“Congratulate LaLiga Santander for giving meaning to this project. I wanted to feel true football again, its essence. They have a special sensitivity, they are honest, loyal, they transmit that unconditional love. It is a fortune to spend time with them, because I probably allows me to have these very close values, it will make me a better person”, commented Miguel Torres.
Finally, from LaLiga he applauded Santander’s “total support” for this project “from minute zero”. “They are not only hosts and sponsors, they have been together for four years, we have created it together. I prefer to talk about fellow travelers. I also want to thank the clubs, without them this project would not be possible. Little by little we are growing, we started 18 and we are already 44, with the inclusion of Real Madrid and Andorra”, said Óscar Mayo.
44 TEAMS WILL COMPETE IN 6 VENUES
Precisely, the incorporation of the Real Madrid Foundation and FC Andorra are the main novelties of this fifth season, which will therefore have 44 teams. These will be divided into three competition groups, under the names of Companionship, Sportsmanship and Respect.
In its fifth edition and under the motto ‘Sharing before competing’, the competition will maintain its competition model based on the 8-a-side football modality, with four-part matches of ten minutes each. The teams are of a single or mixed category, and players of at least 16 years of age may participate, who prove through official documentation that they have a minimum intellectual disability of 33 percent.
The 2022-2023 season is structured in four phases, which will be played in six venues spread throughout the Spanish territory. The first phase, where all the participants will meet again, will take place on November 11, 12 and 13 in Tarragona, with the Nàstic de Tarragona club as host and the Nou Estadi Costa Daurada and the Complex Esportiu Salou as stages.
The second phase, which will be divided into two different venues, will visit the cities of Barcelona and Bilbao on the weekends of February 17-19 and March 25-27, with RCD Espanyol and Athletic Club Fundazioa as hosts. The chosen enclaves will be the Ciudad Deportiva Dani Jarque and the Ciudad Deportiva de Lezama, respectively.
Also divided into two venues, the third phase of this fifth season of LaLiga Genuine Santander will take place in Vigo and Burgos. The two locations will host this phase on April 14, 15 and 16 and May 12, 13 and 14, when the 44 teams will meet in the sports cities of A Madroa and Castañares, with Fundación Celta Integra and Burgos CF as host teams.
The club in charge of putting the finishing touch to this fifth season of LaLiga Genuine Santander will be Villarreal, as host on June 9, 10 and 11 at the Pamesa Sports City. In this grand final it will be known which teams will lift the sports and ‘Fair Play’ trophies.
In addition, as a novelty this season, two more Fair Play winners are added to the competition, thus having a Fair Play winner and a sports winner in each competition group.