Support For Paralympics

Zapatero Ratifies His Support For Paralympics And Boosts Hopes For Madrid 2016

Madrid, 8 July 2009 - The Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has confirmed the government’s commitment to Paralympic athletes and stated how he is convinced that the institutional and commercial promise to these athletes "gains points for the collective aspiration" of Madrid 2016.

By signing the second plan to invest in Paralympic sports (Plan ADOP) Zapatero has restated that the Spanish government is 100% in support of all aspects of Madrid’s bid for the 2016 Games and its ambition to stage the greatest ever Paralympic Games in history .

The Prime Minister praised corporate sponsors and organisations for their commitment to Paralympic sports; especially the Spanish broadcaster RTVE, responsible for bringing the Beijing Paralympics to a wider audience. Zapatero declared that he would like the same commitment to Paralympics during London 2012.

The leader of the government was also sure to praise the determination and dedication of Spanish Paralympic athletes. “These people are professionals at the very top of their game, displaying the very best qualities of humankind. Not being afraid to follow your dream and believing in your own ability to succeed. It is a clear demonstration that sports competitions can be enjoyed by all, without exclusion. Whenever the Paralympic team wear the T-shirt or fly the Spanish flag, they are representing their nation and the important values of Olympism and Paralympism, values which are worth fighting for,” Zapatero concluded.

The Prime Minister has approved the plan to support Paralympic sports (Plan ADOP), and has pledged over €17 million during the rest of his term in office from 2009-2012. This is just the starting point and further investment is expected as the economy stabilizes, enabling more ambitious and long-term plans through further resources.

The current investment is more than double the original figure laid out in the 2005 plan (€7.3 million) and expectations are that it will gradually increase up to €17.8 million as the future looks more optimistic and further support is pledged.

Also taking part in the presentation were the Secretary of State for Sport, Jaime Lissavetzky; the President of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Miguel Carballeda and the General Secretary for Social Politics, Francisco Moza. Representatives from Madrid 2016 were also at the event: Raúl Chapado, the Director of Sports and Projects for Madrid 2016, Ernesto Pérez Lobo, Coordinator of sports for Madrid 2016 and Mariano Ruiz, Coordinator of Paralympic Sports for the Olympian candidacy.

The ADOP Plan focuses on the participation of Spanish Paralympic athletes at Vancouver 2010 (winter) and London 2012 (summer). To support the plan, 14 sponsors have been confirmed including: RTVE, Telephone, El Corte Ingles, Group Paschal Milk, Iberdrola, Foundation ONCE and Foundation ACS. As well as Liberty Seguros, Groupama Seguros, Axa, GADISA, Renfe and Sanitas, incorporated during the period 2005-2008, and Persán has recently been added to the group.

ENDS

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