Mariano Rajoy congratulates Spanish basketball team on gold medal won at Eurobasket 2015

President's News - 2015.9.21

During an audience at Moncloa Palace, the President of the Government, Mariano Rajoy, said to the players from the Spanish team, who had just arrived back from Lille (France), where they won the final of Eurobasket 2015 on Sunday, that they have achieved something very difficult: "To make so many people happy without asking for anything in return".

1. Images of President Rajoy during the reception to Spanish basketball team in Moncloa Palace | Pool Moncloa - 2015.9.21

01:01 1. Images of President Rajoy during the reception to Spanish basketball team in Moncloa...

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

In a brief speech, the President of the Government underlined how difficult the European championships have been for the Spanish team. "The group stage was complicated and the match against Germany was decisive"; however, victory was achieved "based on hard work, sacrifice and on never giving up". According to Mariano Rajoy, this was "the medal of faith", but also "of the team, of power, of talent and of conviction".

Furthermore, the President of the Government expressed words of gratitude both to the President of the Spanish Basketball Federation, José Luis Sáez, and to the national coach, Sergio Scariolo. He highlighted the great work undertaken by both of them. As regards the players, although Mariano Rajoy sought not to highlight anyone in particular, he mentioned the team captain, Felipe Reyes; Pau Gasol, as the best player throughout the tournament; and Sergio "Chacho" Rodríguez, who formed part of the competition's dream team. "You should feel very pleased and proud of yourselves", he said to them.

The President of the Government also mentioned the tremendous viewing figures of Sunday's game against Lithuania, with more than 6 million Spaniards watching the final.

Finally, Mariano Rajoy recalled that the medal won on Sunday is the 12th medal won by the Spanish basketball team in the European championships. This shows that Spain is now the top European country "in terms of medals in the European championships", said the President of the Government. Only the USSR and Yugoslavia has a greater medal haul, and they no longer exist.