Jaén hosted the Champions League por la Salud Mental, a seven-a-side football tournament uniting eight provincial championship teams from across Andalusia at the municipal sports facilities of Las Fuentezuelas, combining competitive sport with mental health awareness and social inclusion initiatives.
Tournament Scope and Municipal Collaboration
The competition brought together eight teams that advanced after winning their respective provincial leagues. Organized with the participation of Faisem (Fundación Pública Andaluza para la Integración Social de Enfermos Mentales) and the collaboration of the Jaén City Council, the event extended beyond matches to feature recreational activities designed to foster social interaction and combat stigma.
The presentation of the tournament featured Jaén’s Councilor for Sports, Beatriz López, and Councilor for Social Services, Ángeles Díaz de la Torre, alongside Faisem provincial delegate María Isabel Vacas and Juan Ramón Gómez of the Andalusian Sport and Mental Health Commission.
Institutional Perspectives on Sport and Inclusion
City officials emphasized the public responsibility of utilizing municipal facilities for social integration. Councilors López and Díaz de la Torre highlighted Faisem’s work since 1993 in visibility and support, noting that the initiative merges sport with personal perseverance and community building.
The director general and consejero delegado of Real Jaén CF participated in the awards ceremony, presenting honors and mentions to the participating squads. Anera stated that the club took pride in supporting an event demonstrating sport’s capacity to drive social inclusion and community wellbeing, while extending congratulations to the winning sides and organizers for gathering hundreds of participants in Jaén.
