The Cartagena City Council has recognized the effort and dedication of 96 athletes in 19 different sports modalities who have received scholarships of high municipal interest, in a ceremony held this Thursday, February 9 at the Palacio de Deportes.
The event was presided over by the mayoress, Noelia Arroyo, and the Councilor for Sports, Álvaro Valdés, with the presence of the majority of the athletes receiving scholarships with this direct aid, which aims to collaborate with the high spending that is involved in developing and promoting their sports careers.
The subsidies, awarded by the City Council through the competitive bidding procedure, are an initiative promoted by the Mayor and Councilor for Sports. “They are our athletes of high interest who have stood out during 2022 for their sporting achievements at the regional, national and international level,” said Arroyo.
In total, 32,000 euros have been distributed among these athletes, based on their results in the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships, Spanish Championships and regional Championships.
Among the scholarship recipients are boxing champion Nayara Arroyo; Antonio Otón, 1st in the absolute national ranking of Judo; Alejandro Puebla and Alberto Martínez, swimming champions; or Daniel Cegarra, bike trial champion, Tomás Sánchez, world fishing champion; Carlota Prendes, bronze in the jiu jitsu world championship and Esther Mora, kettlebell world champion.
Arroyo thanked these athletes for carrying the name of Cartagena for Spain and the world, in addition to emphasizing that “they are an example and encouragement for those who come after.”
“One of the efforts of this council is to continue promoting the practice of grassroots sports. For that, you have to invest in the facilities, improve the aid to the clubs, but it can also be done by setting the example of people who deserve to be imitated like you ”, he pointed out.
This year the number of grants grows from 66 to 96, which shows that “the level of Cartagena’s sport continues to increase year after year, taking the name of Cartagena to the top of the national and international podiums.”
And he points out that, although they do not always get on the podium “you have always won, because an athlete wins when he fights to be better every day”.
