Prensa Ibérica promotes, together with Indoorwall, Climbing Madridthe biggest festival of the climbing in Spain. What moves the Community of Madrid to support this initiative?
We are moved by boom current situation of climbing in our region along with the external projection that this sport is having, both nationally and internationally. And, of course, knowing that we are going to enjoy the talent of the best national athletes. All of this is going to make the Climbing place the Community of Madrid at the epicenter of the national escalation.
In addition, there is the component linked to sports in an event of this magnitude: the attraction of fans and the promotion of tourism in the region. During the week around three hundred climbers will compete and it is estimated that more than 30,000 people will attend, which will cause a significant economic impact for the Community of Madrid.
The possibility of getting to know climbing up close, trying it with family or friends, in extraordinary facilities, with professionals and completely free of charge, will further promote this sporting practice in our community.
The number of licenses in Mountain Sports and Climbing has increased significantly in recent years; It is currently the fifth sport with the most licenses in Spain and the sixth in the Community of Madrid.
And not only has the number of licenses increased, but also the number of installations. From 150 climbing walls in 2018, we went to 202 in 2021 and 360 in 2024.
The event, which will take place from June 10 to 16, includes the celebration of the Spanish Difficulty and Paraclimbing Championship and the Madrid Difficulty Championship for the Absolute and Under-18 categories. Arroyomolinos and the Madrid’s community Those days are going to be the capital of climbing, what impact do you think the event will have on the national scene of this sport?
The visibility that this event will give to climbing is going to be very significant; because there is not only the possibility of enjoying a high-level competition and being able to see the best climbers in the world live, but also the possibility of being able to practice climbing in unbeatable conditions and in an unbeatable environment.
As I said, the Community of Madrid, once again, is going to be the epicenter of national sport with this great event. The people of Madrid will be able to enjoy the best climbers in Arroyomolinos, and this also seems very important to us as a sign that we are committed to the great events that take place in any of the municipalities of the region, thus betting on the sporting impulse and the promotion and attraction of visitors who will undoubtedly be able to enjoy added value.
Climbing, whether indoors or outdoors, offers a wide range of benefits and challenges that can enrich any climber’s experience. //SHUTTERSTOCK
‘Climbing Madrid’ is the first macro-festival of more than 60 hours dedicated to climbing that is organized in Spain and includes recreational-festive activities for lovers of this sport. It promises to be a milestone in the world of climbing. Why do you think this sport has gone from being a minority to a social phenomenon?
Climbing has seen a significant increase in popularity due to several factors. There is greater accessibility to climbing places and the number of climbing walls and, therefore, the possibilities to practice this sport has increased significantly. Furthermore, the dissemination of climbing in the media and social networks, and the perception of climbing as a healthy and fun activity have promoted knowledge and approach to the benefits of this sport.
These factors make climbing go from being a minority sport to a social phenomenon, attracting an increasingly wider and more diverse audience. Climbing is a fashionable sport, not only because of how complete it is as a physical activity. From a psychological point of view, climbing invites us to overcome our own limits and strengthen our confidence.
The number of fans of this sport is growing, private investment is growing, the number of rock tracks is growing… to what extent should this ‘boom’ in climbing be accompanied by support for this sport from the administrations?
Climbing Madrid It is a good example of everything we can achieve to promote sport and its values when we join forces from the administrations and from the private sphere. This collaboration, as we are seeing in the organization and development of many sporting events that are organized in the region, is essential to be able to offer great events.
Climbing has become fashionable, especially in the large cities of the Community of Madrid and Catalonia. How can this healthy sports practice be extended to other smaller towns or rural areas?
The Community of Madrid has a historical tradition of climbers who have cut their teeth in the Sierra de Guadarrama. That is, in the rural environment. Many of them are great mountaineers who have scaled the highest peaks on the planet. Now we are living a very sweet moment in climbing because its practice has spread as an experience that can be lived with no more ambition than facing a wall and enjoying each progress, with big or small aspirations, but, most importantly, enjoying at the top of the road.
Con Climbing We are going to have the opportunity to see the best climbers in the world, but also to learn about their experiences, their life experiences. That is why promoting events like this allows us to promote climbing with maximum dissemination.
Climbing was included for the first time in history in recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic GamesWhat do you think this sport has that others don’t have to attract so many fans?
Climbing is a healthy, sociable, fun activity with psychological benefits for those who practice it; All of this contributes to it going from being a minority sport to being a social phenomenon, into a fashionable sport that manages to attract more and more audiences and practitioners.
These reasons, together with the greater accessibility to climbing areas in the natural environment and the significant increase in climbing walls that there has been in recent years, make climbing much easier and accessible for everyone. The Olympic gold that Alberto Ginés won in Tokyo catapulted the popularity of this sport, giving it visibility in the media that he had never had, until that moment.
How do you see the future of climbing in Madrid and in Spain after the celebration of this climbing festival? Do you think that Madrid has the will and projection to become the reference region for climbing lovers?
The visibility that will be given to climbing in this event and the possibility of practicing it for people who have never done it will undoubtedly contribute to continuing to promote this sport in our community. In the Community of Madrid there are currently more than 12,000 climbers; more than 400 competing federatedly, and for next season, this number will surely continue to increase.
The Madrid federation has been developing a technicalization program for years with which it has achieved great results in Spanish championships, especially in speed climbing, where it has taken most of the podiums in the last Spanish championship.
The macrofestival will also address topics such as anorexia in sports or bullying Through awareness talks, how do you think sport in general, and climbing in particular, contribute to raising awareness of these social problems?
Sport, including climbing, can play an important role in raising awareness about social issues such as anorexia and bullying. First, climbing promotes a healthy, active lifestyle, which can help prevent eating disorders and promote positive body image. Furthermore, climbing, being an activity that requires mental strength, confidence… contributes to developing self-confidence and self-esteem, which can be beneficial for those who have been victims of bullying.
2024-05-15 08:00:26
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