Pedro Sánchez: "The new law recognizes sport as a fundamental right"

MADRID, 21 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, celebrated this Wednesday that the new Sports Law will address its final processing in the Congress of Deputies in a few hours, a text that recognizes physical activity and sport as a "fundamental right" and that responds in an "effective" and "resolute" way to the demands of the sector.

"The Sports Law tomorrow will address its final process in the General Courts of the Congress of Deputies. It is a law that recognizes physical activity and sport as a fundamental right of citizenship and that responds effectively and resolutely to the demands of the sector", said the President of the Executive in his speech at the gala of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), held in Madrid.

In this sense, Sánchez recognized that the current Sports Law was "obsolete", for which reason he saw a "change" as necessary. "The previous law of 1990 had clearly become obsolete. The world has changed in these three decades and sport has not been immune to that change. That is why the new Sports Law was born to promote a much more developed sport at all levels, that speaks the language of our time," he said.

"We want to achieve a sport focused on the ecological transition, on the values ​​that commit us to the sustainable development of our planet, to digital innovation and to the training and vital needs of professionals. I am also talking about a sport that promotes equality, of inclusion, of territorial cohesion and an enemy of any form of discrimination", he added.

In addition, Sánchez highlighted the great economic effort that the Government has made to carry out this new law. "We are going to accompany it with exceptional resources, to meet the objectives. The General State Budgets are going to dedicate the largest amount in its history to sport, specifically 375 million euros. In this way we are going to reach 1,100 million euros dedicated to sport throughout these four years", he pointed out.

"Sport also has a powerful economic dimension, it is an asset of incalculable value and that is why we are the only country in Europe that has included sport as one of the levers for European funds. It is a country's commitment to sport Spanish, so that it is equal to the success of the athletes' careers", he stated.

Sánchez also took advantage of the gala to make a special mention of Ukraine and the athletes Elnaz Rebaki and Amir Nasr-Azadani, convicted by the Iranian regime for defending human rights. "I want to invoke the example of Ukraine and the Russian athletes themselves who see their careers cut short because of their leader. Sport is the engine of change, a reason for joy in a world so in need of positive feelings," he stressed.

"We have to be a country that knows how to treat its athletes with dignity, not only in moments of success, but also when injuries appear or when they retire. In an act like today's, I want to appeal to the universal values ​​of the Olympic flag and I want to name two athletes: the Iranian climber Elnaz Rebaki and the Iranian soccer player Amir Nasr-Azadani. With the voice of universal sport we have to vindicate the example and inspiration of these people," he said.

Lastly, the politician thanked the COE for its work with Spanish athletes and recognized all the winners for their merit. "For me it is an honor to be able to participate in this tribute to a group of people who are very dear to our country. This list of winners unites legends with revelations, recognizes long careers, but also great performances. It reminds us that the spirit of overcoming Olympism must always be accompanied by the defense of the fundamental values ​​of sport", he asserted.

"All of the winners tonight represent the best face of sport and that is a great responsibility, because sport is also an element of social cohesion and national identity. That is why I would like to reiterate my personal commitment to recognize that importance and turn sport into what it should be, an authentic state policy", he concluded.