Speech by President of the Government at reception held for the Spanish women's basketball team, European champions

A very good afternoon to you all. I would like to begin by saying this: many congratulations.

I said two things to the team captain earlier: firstly, carry on. Next year, as you know, the World Championships will be held here in September, and we are going to win - we will even beat the United States, won't we? - because we are absolutely the best! Secondly, the President of the Federation - a very important basketball player herself in our country for a long time - said in her speech that it was an honour to be here at Moncloa Palace. The honour is all ours, for all of us who work here.

This is an event in which I am absolutely convinced that the vast majority of Spanish people feel very well represented, because we are all aware that in sport, eventually, we end up seeing the presentation of medals, the joy... which is all very important; however, what people don't see so often is all the effort, hard work, dedication and sacrifice that needs to go into this beforehand, and we should all make an effort to realise that. This is a good message for people: you have to work and make an effort and, in the end, you are the fruit of this hard work and effort.

Hence, thank you very much for being here and I, naturally, am here as President of the Government of Spain but above all as a very honoured Spanish citizen.

Laia said in her speech that I like basketball a lot. Indeed, I do, as do a great many Spanish people. It's the second-most followed sport in the country after one other, I forget exactly which but basketball is the second-most popular sport in Spain.

I used to play something called minibasket when I was younger. Basketball in Spain has been growing gradually and improving, and now provides us with some great joy - especially you ladies, who have carved out some amazing results at every championship you've played in lately. Now we look forward to 2018, which I am absolutely convinced you will win.

I would now like to finish with an anecdote - which will probably earn me some criticism but, quite frankly, I'm not bothered about that at this point - to show you what sport is. Not one; two anecdotes.

I was given a piece of paper with your results at this European Championship. It was fine but there was one date missing: Thursday 22. On Thursday 22, you played against Latvia. So, for some strange reason the match against Latvia was not on this piece of paper but I know you played Latvia on Thursday 22 because I was in Brussels, shut in a room with the 28 Heads of State and Government - there are still 28 of us - of the European Union. I was sat next to the President of Latvia - "I have a problem here", I said to myself - and he had a huge tablet on which I could see what was happening and I told him "look, it doesn't look like you have much of a chance. I'm very sorry for you but, let's be honest, there's no point denying the obvious".

So, some of us saw that game on the 22nd, while also fulfilling our duties of course, and yesterday we saw a very nice final against a team that is genuinely tough, complicated and difficult - as you know much better than me - France.

Nonetheless, in the end, winning the European Championship was highly satisfying; beating France - I'm going to keep making friends here! - is doubly satisfying, simply because of how good they are and for no other reason.

So, thank you very much for being here, enjoy yourselves and many congratulations. You have made many people happy without asking for anything in return, which is the best thing you can do in life.

Thank you.