The Bizkaina Pelota Federation was established in 1925 at the Bilbao Sports Club. And that was where the … commemorative events of the centenary of the federative establishment. At ‘Depor’ all ball players met in a massive event to learn about the program of events prepared for the occasion. Under the motto ‘Mende bat pilotaren alde’ (A century in favor of ball), a wide and varied proposal has been prepared for the coming months. Íñigo Aurtenetxe, president of Vizcaína, recalled that the Territorial “was established on November 4, here, at Deportivo. There were four people, among them a renowned journalist who was called ‘Aitona’ -José Ramón Basterra-. Play began in 1926 and we wanted to celebrate the centenary in a calendar year. In such a global event like this, in which you see the entire ball world gathered together, it is all very nice. It is a pride and an honor, but there is pressure too,” he acknowledged.
Within the extensive program of activities, the different festivals that will be celebrated throughout this year stand out. There will be one per specialty in the male and female categories: point basket, handball, shovel, adapted ball, ratchet and frontenis. Some of them with the idea of competing in ‘Depor’ itself. In addition, a festive ‘Pilota Eguna’ scheduled for the month of May will take place in Bilbao’s Arenal. Other milestones will be the presentation at the end of the year of the book written on the occasion of this centenary, a special edition of the annual Bizkaian pelota gala and the GRABNI finals in the province. Centenary t-shirts will be made and the federation has also launched its new APP.
Wide representation
The event at the Bilbao Sports Club, where the passion for baseball was planned, became a meeting point with the presence of Gorka Iturriaga, director of Physical Activity and Sports of the Basque Government; Leixuri Arrizabalaga, Provincial Deputy of Bizkaia for Euskera, Culture and Sports; Itxaso Erroteta, Councilor for Youth and Sports of the City Council; Marcos Muro, director of Bilbao Kirolak; or Iñaki López Negrete, president of the host club of this event that filled the social hall.
Representing the Bizkaia Pelota Federation, its president, Iñigo Aurtenetxe, and vice president, Naia Ouro, led the event. Joxe Mari Mitxelena, president of the Basque Pelota Federation, and many of the presidents and members of the 65 clubs that make up this Bizkaine Pelota Federation joined in, along with players and former players and representatives of the institutions and companies that will sponsor this centenary. Fernando Castro, a member of ‘Depor’, was also honored for his 45 years of work in the federation. The ball is very alive in Bizkaia.
