– BOARD OF ANDALUSIA
HUELVA Jan. 9 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia del Pozo, presented this Friday in Huelva, together with the mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda; the president of the Provincial Council, David Toscano; the president of the Spanish Badminton Federation, Andoni Azurmendi; and the president of the Andalusian Badminton Federation, Carlos Lorgo, the official image of the Huelva 2026 Absolute European Badminton Championship, which will be held from April 6 to 12 in the capital of Huelva, and in which the Andalusia brand will have a special role.
As indicated by the Board in a press release, the head of Sports has indicated that the incorporation of the Andalusia brand to the image of the competition “consolidates the institutional support of the Andalusian Government and reinforces the positioning of the championship as a top-level sporting event linked to a modern, hospitable community committed to sport.”
In his speech, Del Pozo pointed out that “it has been built from a clear and recognizable visual concept that unites sport, movement and territory in a single symbol, in a fan-shaped structure as the main element, and is made up of the graphic repetition of badminton shuttlecocks, arranged radially.” “Composition that generates a powerful, dynamic and easily identifiable image, which works both as a sports symbol and as a cultural icon,” he added.
Furthermore, the counselor has also highlighted that “the fan establishes a direct connection with Andalusia, where it is a cultural symbol deeply rooted in our land and that evokes identity, energy, expressiveness and climate, naturally integrating our character within the visual language of the event.” “And the gesture of opening the fan also reinforces the idea of welcome and international openness, consistent with the European dimension of the championship,” he added.
In relation to the new image of the championship, Del Pozo has pointed out that “it is a contemporary identity, combining sports movement, cultural symbolism and institutional projection, and that turns the steering wheel and the fan into a single image capable of representing both the emotion of the game and the uniqueness of the venue.”
During the event, the mascot of the European championship was also presented, which represents a wolf, an animal with which Carolina Marín has always identified “by representing claw, strength, which has also always characterized the Huelva athlete.” She is dressed very similar to the outfit that the Andalusian player wore in the final of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in which she was proclaimed champion, and her name is Luz, which is also identified with the Costa de la Luz of Huelva and the light of Huelva.
The president of the Spanish Federation, Andoni Azurmendi, highlighted that “more than 200 athletes from more than 20 countries will participate in a tournament, which will bring together Olympic and world champions, highly famous international sports stars, including five athletes from the world’s top 10.”
In Spain alone the competition will generate more than 28 million impacts and an audience of more than 13 million viewers. To this will be added all the international monitoring in the two major markets of this sport such as Asia and Europe, broadcasting live in 15 countries around the world, especially Europe, Asia and America, and through platforms it will reach more than 80 countries.”
For her part, the mayor of Huelva, Pilar Miranda, has indicated that “the best European Championship in history will be organized, to be able to give Carolina Marín a farewell as she deserves.” “In his house and in the pavilion that bears his name, and it is a clear example of what can be achieved when there is loyal and effective collaboration between administrations,” he added.
“I want to expressly thank the commitment of the Junta de Andalucía, with its advisor Patricia Del Pozo, of the Provincial Council, with its president David Toscano, and of the Spanish Badminton Federation and its president, Andoni Azurmendi. That is why we are here today, presenting the image, logo and mascot of the European Badminton Championship 2026. When we work together, with a common objective, the results come and benefit everyone,” he said. underlined.
Miranda also highlighted that “for Huelva, this event represents an extraordinary opportunity.” “Not only in sporting terms, but also in economic, tourist and social terms. During these days, our city will open up to the world, showing its organizational capacity, its infrastructure, its climate, its gastronomy and, above all, the warmth of its people,” he commented.
On the other hand, the president of the Provincial Council, David Toscano, has indicated that the 2026 European Badminton Championship will be “new support for the Huelva destination and the capacity demonstrated by this province to host major international events.” “An opportunity to show a Huelva that is prepared, welcoming, with experience and with a vision for the future,” he insisted.
“From the Huelva Provincial Council we will continue working, together with the Huelva City Council, the Government of Andalusia and the sports federations, so that this championship lives up to what this land represents,” he assured.
A “VERY SPECIAL” CHAMPIONSHIP
The Absolute European Badminton Championship, which will take place at the Carolina Marín Sports Palace, will be held in Huelva for the second time, after the one held in 2018, which Carolina Marín won. The presence of the Huelva champion, for whom it will be a “very special” event, will be one of the great attractions of the competition.
The capital of Huelva and the Andalusian community will once again become the epicenter of international badminton, after hosting the 2021 World Championships and the aforementioned European Absolute Championship in 2018.
