Thursday, 24/06/2021 - 16:11

“The Olympic Games of Tokyo are going to be the hardest in history, but I am also convinced that they are going to have the greater media repercussion ever”, pointed out Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, during the Europa Press Informative Breakfast held today at the Auditorium ‘El Beatriz’ of Madrid. The top representative of the Spanish Olympic movement reviewed the history of Olympic sport in our country and sent a message of hope for Tokyo, confident that the fans will be able to enjoy an edition of the Olympic Games whose organisation is proving to be extremely challenging: “Athletes are major icons of Spanish society and, during the pandemic, they have been an example to all of us. Now, we must follow their example supporting them”. 

During his intervention, he highlighted the great work of the athletes to qualify for the Games, reminding that, currently, there are 294 athletes with a guaranteed ticket to Tokyo (172 men and 122 women). Among them, more than sixty are linked to UCAM and, because of that, he highlighted the work of the institutions, companies and persons who wholeheartedly support the Olympic athletes, and especially “UCAM, which in addition to financial support contributes with a key aspect, such as training”. 

José Luis Mendoza, president of UCAM, stated that he shares Alejandro Blanco’s optimism with regard to the Olympic Games of Tokyo: “We have a very positive feeling. In Rio we already were extremely successful and we are confident that they are going to achieve great results”. Regarding Alejandro Blanco’s work as president of COE, he said “he is a gift to national sport. We have many projects in common and I hope that we will continue to develop them, in order to keep on offering high-quality training and excellent research in the field of health, nutrition and sport. The University of Sport in Madrid will be a great opportunity to achieve this and to create many jobs for our Olympic athletes, thus guaranteeing their professional life once their sports career ends”. 

Ona Carbonell, in the UCAM family

The event was attended by many members of the sports family of UCAM Universidad Católica de Murcia: Ona Carbonell (synchronised swimming), Sandra Aguilar and Lourdes Mohedano (gymnastics), Pablo Abián (badminton), Fernando Carro (Athletics) and Lola Riera (field hockey), as well as the Olympic champions who, after retiring from competition, became UCAM workers, the canoeist David Cal and the sailor Sofía Toro.  

Ona Carbonell, whose place in the Olympic Games of Tokyo is already confirmed, expressed her eagerness to enjoy a new Olympic experience: “Qualifying has been extremely hard, but now we are in a good place and we are ready to compete. My primary aim in Tokyo is to have fun. These Olympic Games are going to be special for all they represent and we want all those who see us to enjoy as well and to have a good time after such a difficult year”. In these Games, she will already compete as athlete belonging to the UCAM-COE model. “I am thrilled because I believe that this University helps Spanish sport a lot. Many athletes I know, such as Mireia Belmonte or Saúl Craviotto, are a part of it and I know they are very happy, so I am glad to be a part of this family”.