Santa Cruz de Tenerife will host an International U18 Women’s Basketball Tournament for the next four years, as stated during the signing ceremony of an agreement between the City Council of the capital and the Island Council with the Spanish and Island federations, jointly with the Hotel Escuela in the capital.
The signing ceremony took place at the Hotel Escuela in the capital, which was chaired by the city’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, accompanied by the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, Jorge Garbajosa. Also present were the vice president of the Cabildo, Enrique Arriaga, as well as the insular head of Sports, Concepción Rivero, together with the Councilor for Sports of Santa Cruz, Alicia Cebrián; in addition to the presidents of the Canarian and Tenerife federations, Carlos Olano and Rafael González, respectively.
The mayor of the city, Jose Manuel Bermudezwelcomed the president of the Spanish Federation, Jorge Garbajosa, and thanked the person in charge of the Insular de Baloncesto de Tenerife, Raphael Gonzalez, the organization of a new basket event in Santa Cruz.
The first municipal mayor also stated that “Talking about basketball in Santa Cruz is not news, since it is a sport that is part of the heart of our city. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the city and basketball have always gone hand in hand. In fact, there are multiple events that take place every weekend related to basketball, in schools or lifelong grassroots clubs, whose directors we do not have enough words to thank for what they do for society to train better people in our capital, because tomorrow they will not forget all those values they learned thanks to basketball”.
“We are happy because today a tournament project is being presented that is here to stay, not only to bet on training, but they are also things that will remain on the island and, furthermore, it will help us make our city known with the presence of teams from other countries”pointed out José Manuel Bermúdez.
The president of the Spanish Federation, Jorge Garbajosa, for his part, wanted to remember not only the celebration of the Women’s Basketball World Cup, but also other events of both the men’s and women’s national teams held on the island. In addition, the federative leader highlighted the hospitality with which they always welcome the Spanish teams in Santa Cruz. Garbajosa also commented that “It is a tournament that is not only crucial for the preparation of the European that is being held in Greece, but it will also serve as preparation for the U19 World Cup that will be held next year in Madrid”.
“Tenerife and Santa Cruz bet on basketball and, of course, also on women’s. Therefore, we can only thank you from the Spanish Federation and our recognition of the work you do from the Insular and Canarian federations. In this way, the island and the capital are once again on the map of the first level of Spanish and international basketball”Garbajosa indicated. To which he added that “All the girls who play basketball deserve support with the organization and dissemination of events like the one that Santa Cruz is going to host starting this year.”
The Island Councilor for Sports, Concepcion Rivero, explained that “The Cabildo will always support events of this category and more so when it allows the quarry and the great players on the island to be promoted and made visible. For this reason, this four-year agreement is signed. I am sure that in the month of July we will enjoy a top-level competition, which is why I encourage the public to go to the Quico Cabrera pavilion”.
The First Vice President of the Cabildo, Henry Arriaga, pointed out that “Tenerife has always had a great relationship with basketball, it has one of the best Spanish teams, recent European champions, and a crowd that deserves and enjoys top-level tournaments like this one. I assure you that they have not been able to choose a better place to celebrate this tournament”. In addition, Arriaga added that “Throughout history, the Spanish team has had great players from Tenerife such as Charo Borges, Lidia Mirchandani, Laura Herrera or the young promise Elena Buenavida. The Cabildo will continue working to promote women’s sport”.
The mayor of Sports, Alicia Cebrian, commented that “This is an international tournament that allows us to promote the city, where we have large facilities such as the Quico Cabrera pavilion, which has been ratified as the venue for top-level sporting events.” Likewise, the councilor for Sports in Santa Cruz pointed out that “if a few weeks ago we had a final phase of the World Water Polo League, by the way, also for women, today we are also presenting a test of an international nature”.
“Santa Cruz is recovering the pulse of sport, of a popular and federated nature, and it is a symptom of recovery, not only in the social, sports, but also a boost for the economy of the capital”, concluded Alicia Cebrián.
