The director of the Olympic institution was in charge of opening the event, and he highlighted that "there is no Committee president, no minister, nor any representative of any university who counts on so many athletes of such quality". 

Furthermore, Alejandro Blanco announced to the athletes the final security measures that they will have to follow during the Olympic Games, communicated yesterday by the International Olympic Committee, and informed them that "it will not be required to be vaccinated, but we are going to try to ensure that all athletes who want to be vaccinated are vaccinated. The Olympic Committee recommends it out of respect for ourselves and the Japanese society”.  

The president of the COE also thanked José Luis Mendoza: “We want to thank you in front of everyone for the disinterested help you provide to the Spanish Olympic Committee so that athletes from all over Spain can study. We must say thank you and we must respect, support and promote the person who helps us in exchange for nothing. And the project we have talked so much about, of the University of Sports, we already have it”. 

Regarding the minister of Culture and Sports, Alejandro Blanco highlighted that he “knows, understands and practices sports. I admire his concern with ADN and the training of athletes, because he values them more as persons rather than because of their sports performances. That is what we are working on together with the Ministry of Culture and Sport. And the creation of the Athlete's Statute is his initiative”.  

José Luis Mendoza assured that “the UCAM-COE model is unique. The aim of this project is for the athlete not to renounce to his dreams. The university adapts to the needs of the athlete. This model of University is unique. Our aim is to not only offer training, but also a job. We firmly believe in sport for the value it entails. Sport, especially Olympic sport, helps to promote social relations”. 

On behalf of the athletes, those in charge of speaking and thanking both UCAM and COE for the opportunity they have been given were the weightlifter Lydia Valentín, Olympic, world and European champion; the athlete Orlando Ortega, Olympic, world and continental medallist; the swimmer Teresa Perales, winner of 26 Paralympic and 22 world medals; and the karateka Damián Quintero, world number one and European and world champion. 

Finally, the Minister of Culture and Sport, who highlighted the connection between sport, education in values and culture, closed the event. “Sport represents the best values of civilisation. They reside in the values of sport, which communicate them it in strict connection with culture. The university is a key-element in order to absorb these human values that are so important”, he highlighted. 

“Sport is a right, an industry, you represent the brand of Spain. When we travel abroad, people recognises us thanks to you. Sport is a right of the citizens; therefore, we must work so that access to sport is universal. We are working on that with Alejandro Blanco, on a law of sport and on a model of sport focused on the basis, university sport, female sport, inclusive sport. It is a right of the professional athletes and we have a big challenge ahead of us, which is why we want to create the Athlete’s Statute”, he said before sending a message of encouragement to the athletes and wishing them all the luck in the world for the Olympics of Tokyo 2020. 

Orlando Ortega, Mariano García, Julia Takács and Diego García Carrera (athletics); Polina Berezina, Claudia Heredia, Lourdes Mohedano and Sandra Aguilar (rhythmic gymnastics); Jesús Tortosa, Raúl Martínez and Javier Pérez Polo (taekwondo); Matías Gómez, Andrea Armada, Sergio Galán and Lidia Rodríguez (karate); Vicente Hernández (triathlon ), Atenery Hernández (weightlifting); Alberto Barroso (water polo); Tania Calvo (cycling ); Paula Soria and Belén Carro (beach volley); Íñigo Peña (canoeing); María López, Lola riera y Beatriz Pérez (field hockey); Nikoloz Sherazadishvili (judo); and Malena Ortiz (football) are the athletes  presented during the event as new members of the successful UCAM-COE project.  

Some of the athletes who already enjoy the benefits offered by the university so that they can combine high-performance sport and university training also joined them. Among theme, there were Lydia Valentín (weightlifting); Teresa Perales (swimming), Sandra Sánchez and Damián Quintero (karate); David Cal, Paco Cubelos and Javier Hernanz (canoeing); Artemi Gavezou (rhythmic gymnastics); Elsa Baquerizo (beach volley); and Eva Calvo (taekwondo).