Pedro Sánchez stresses that investing in sport means investing "in opportunities for the future" and announces more than 2 billion euros over the next six years

Madrid

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, today took part in the 19th Annual Gala of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), where he stressed that "the sports sector is contributing as much as anyone else" to the "extraordinary economic moment" that Spain is experiencing, and for this reason he has committed himself to "continue promoting this potential, investing in innovation and competitiveness."

Pedro Sánchez stressed that investing in sport means investing in health, but also in opportunities for the future, and for this reason he recalled the sustained efforts of the Government: "In the last six years, 1.8 billion euros has been allocated to sport, 63% more than in the previous period, and in the next six years it will be more than 2 billion euros," he announced.

"Sport not only excites us, it is also employment and prosperity and already represents 2.6% of the national GDP. This is 13% more than in 2018 and translates into a 15% increase in employment in that period, after employing almost a quarter of a million people," he noted.

The head of the Executive reviewed the main initiatives and measures implemented by the Executive in the field of sport, such as the approval of the Law on Sport, which will be fully developed in the Statute of Sportspeople; the strategic project for the digital transformation of the sports ecosystem, which will have 5 million euros; the National Strategy for the Promotion of Sport against Sedentary Lifestyles and Physical Inactivity, and the new National Strategy against Hate Speech, which will be approved in 2025. He also called for continuing to "combat sexual violence in sport with all possible means."

Family photo of the 19th Annual Gala of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Aid for sport in Valencia

During his speech, Pedro Sánchez announced that the government has earmarked 2 million euros in subsidies for sports organisations in the municipalities affected by the DANA. "And that is why we have committed to finance up to 50% of the repair or reconstruction of damaged sports infrastructures," said the president, adding that "thanks to an additional effort, we will be able to reach 100% when necessary." "No child in Paiporta, Benetússer or Picanya will be left without spaces to do sports because of the mud that has also destroyed sports centres, tracks and courts," he said.

"Valencia is suffering today. And we all have to help her get back on her feet. Let's do it as the team we are. An extraordinary team called Spain," he said.

Tribute to the Spanish medallists at the Olympic Games in Paris

During the ceremony, which was also attended by the Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sport, Pilar Alegría, the Spanish medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as well as Carolina Martín and Saúl Craviotto, were awarded prizes. "Athletes," stressed President Sánchez, "who have made us dream with their triumphs, but who have also transmitted to us their principles of equality, inclusion and solidarity.

Furthermore, the president recalled that during the Paris Olympics there were "three milestones of enormous symbolic value" for Spanish sport. "Firstly, Olympic and Paralympic athletes finally received the same medal awards," thus "ending a discrimination that is not only intolerable, but also incompatible with the principles shared by our society." "The second milestone is that, at last, after 27 times taking part in the Olympic Games, the Spanish delegation was made up of more women than men" and "our delegation finally looks like the country we are," he said. And the third remarkable achievement, "is that this delegation was the largest in our history, with the exception of Barcelona 92," he said.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, attends the presentation of awards to Spanish athletes at the Annual Gala of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

These achievements are the result of the "constant work" of the HCS, the IOC and the federations and, in this sense, he recalled the "50 million euros invested in the Team Spain programme, an example of public-private partnership; or the 30 million in ADO scholarships, to reach all athletes; and the HCS subsidies to the federations, which have beaten their historical record."

Spain to host the Men's World Cup in 2030

The president took the opportunity to say that FIFA has today confirmed that Spain, Portugal and Morocco will host the Men's World Cup in 2030: "A historic event that will serve to highlight the wonders of our country and our football. It's a great day for everyone," he said.

Meeting with Thomas Bach in Moncloa

Prior to this Annual Gala of the Spanish Olympic Committee, the head of the Executive held a meeting with the President of the IOC, Thomas Bach, at the Moncloa Palace Complex. Both agreed on the importance of sport as a transmitter of values such as equality, inclusion and solidarity, concepts on which the Olympic movement is based.

Non official translation