MADRID, 1 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), Raúl Chapado, affirmed that the final of the World Indoor Tour that will be held this Wednesday, March 2, at the Gallur Municipal Sports Center in Madrid will be an event that “transcends sports”, being the “first major competition” to be held in Madrid, the world capital of sport in 2022, and due to the current war in Ukraine.
“This event transcends sports. It is part of our permanent commitment to sports and athletics. It is the first major event in this very special year. With what is happening, it is much more important. It has been a fantastic year in sports, We arrived at a tremendous moment. It will be a ‘big event’, with the return of the public to the stadiums”, Chapado celebrated this Tuesday at the press conference to present the World Indoor Tour of Madrid 22 in Condeduque.
The leader highlighted the great reception by the public, which in a few minutes sold out 60% of the tickets. “Having been without an audience for almost two years, people now really want to see the athletes. And the credit goes to them, with great closeness, and they have understood that their responsibility lies on and off the slopes. They have generated a feeling of union. It strikes me that almost 30% of the tickets sold are tickets for boys and girls,” he said.
In addition, Chapado confessed that it will be a different event due to the situation in Ukraine. “It has affected us. The Russian and Ukrainian athletes who were going to come have declined the invitation themselves. I went to the president of the Ukrainian federation to offer him my support, to collaborate with the Ukrainian athletes who want to train safely in Spain. It is a human rights problem and sport has to be firm at this time. We cannot justify or accompany situations that go against human rights”, he sentenced.
Asked about the level of the Spanish team ahead of the World Cup in Belgrade, Chapado highlighted the great competitiveness of national athletes. “We are going to have a very competitive team, talking about medals is trivial, we cannot play at being fortune tellers. We are going to continue along the same lines as in recent years. Even those with less aspirations have proven to be very competitive. We live this situation with I am very excited. The work of athletes and coaches is being exceptional,” he said.
YULIMAR ROJAS: “COMPETING IN MADRID IS A PLEASURE, LIKE BEING AT HOME”
For her part, the Madrid City Council’s Delegate Councilor for Sports, Sofía Miranda, was “happy” with the return of the public to the stadiums. “I am excited because athletes represent the best that human beings have. They compete among themselves but above all they are partners, they help each other. At this time it is more necessary than ever, it is essential that we hold on to the values of the sport,” he asked.
“There are events that are part of the Madrid brand and this is one of them. It would not be understood that we did not have this event, very exciting and relevant. That all eyes look at Madrid is also a source of pride, it is part of the institution And on a public track that is open for many boys and girls in our city to train. The base is essential for the athletes, but they are also essential for the base,” Miranda said.
Adel Mechaal, Mohamed Katir, Marta Pérez, Mariano García and Yulimar Rojas attended the event’s presentation ceremony, which will be held on March 2 at the Gallur Municipal Sports Center, with “great enthusiasm” for competing in Madrid. “Being here in Madrid is wonderful, competing in Madrid is always a pleasure, it’s a feeling of being at home. It’s one more opportunity for a good show”, confessed the Venezuelan.
Thus, the Madrid track will bring together the main stars of world athletics, such as Maria Lasitskene, Selemon Barega, Linden Hall, Pozzi, Kipruto or Samba-Mayela, in a final meeting that will serve as a preview before facing the World Championship that will be held from March 18 to 20 in Belgrade.