“It was not crazy that the 22 medals from Barcelona’92 could be surpassed in Paris”

The president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, assured this Wednesday that “it was not crazy” that in Paris 2024 the 22 medals of Barcelona’92 had been exceeded because the “expectations were reasonable”, and asked not just stick to the metals but see it in a “comprehensive way” and “generate a shared and discussed strategy” to improve the current model.

“If the focus is strictly on the medals. The expectations were reasonable, the president of the COE and I made a reasoned reflection and it was not crazy that they could be exceeded,” said Rodríguez Uribes, protagonist of the Europa Press Sports Breakfasts sponsored by State Lotteries and Betting, Mondo, Vithas and Joma.

The leader recalled that in Paris 2024 there were “69 finalists, 30 fourth and fifth places”, but that “then you have to compete.” “But if only ten (of the fourth or fifth places) had been on the podium there would have been 28 medals and we would have surpassed Barcelona. You have to see things with perspective, analyze all the elements and see the things that work and those that don’t, where We have to put more effort,” he noted.

Uribes insisted on seeing “the parameters beyond the medal”, which indicate that “the situation of Spanish sport is very good.” “In the Games we have been very high because we have been very present and there are many very good data that must be evaluated. Due to the demands of the sport we must aspire for more, we have surpassed Tokyo only by one medal and that bittersweet feeling remains,” the Valencian remarked.

“We must not lose ourselves only in the medals, which are an important objective, we must see it comprehensively,” he reiterated. “Spanish sport is very good, every weekend we are receiving good news and for its size, Spain is at the top, but we also have to aspire to much more because we can do it,” he admitted.

Uribes stressed that Spanish sport has “already 564 medals in international competitions and 345 Spanish records.” “We are within the Olympic ‘G-20’, we must not rest on our laurels because we have an extraordinary challenge ahead of us, but we must also be satisfied with a job well done,” stressed the president of the CSD.

“WE MUST GENERATE A SHARED AND DIALOGUED STRATEGY”

He referred to the meeting he held with ADESP, which brings together all the federations and which is “the complete view”, regarding the model for the coming years. Now, they will meet “progressively” with groups of federations “to have an overall vision of this semester.”

However, he made it clear that “the model is in the law” and that they only have to “implement it and design a strategy for the coming years inspired by those principles”, without forgetting that the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) “is also doing a good job.” I have been working on this matter for many years, which will enrich this.” “We must generate a shared and dialogued strategy,” he asserted.

Rodríguez Uribes is committed to “looking to the future and making decisions with those who know, who are the federations, that the law itself places them at the center of the model and who are in the day-to-day life”, although without leaving behind “all the actors”. At the moment, from this first meeting they have not received “any specific request” and it will be from the meetings where they draw “conclusions” and see “priorities, objectives and difficulties.”

On the other hand, the leader spoke about governance in the federations, especially in relation to the limitation of mandates, which does not appear in the new Sports Law. “If it was not incorporated it is because there was no consensus, this is still another deontological principle and some federations have incorporated it and others have not, I believe that it should belong to the autonomy of the federations. The Olympic Charter also inspires it, I do not believe that Whether that is the problem because things can be done well or badly if there is little or too much,” he pointed out.

The leader recalled that “as president of the CSD” his obligation is to “respect the autonomy of the federations” and also referred to the electoral processes in the federations and the possible lack of transparency that there may be. “If it were a problem of rules, it would happen in all federations, but in the majority the Ministerial Order works and when it doesn’t, it is due to elements outside the rules of the game,” he concluded.

Uribes stated that the Sports Law also “is the most inclusive in the world” and that it is the one that “is most at the forefront of duties and obligations to promote inclusive sports.” “And the Spanish Paralympic Committee, with Miguel Carballeda at the helm, has been fundamental because they have always been on top, with kindness and also always demanding things,” he commented.

In this sense, he confessed the “discomfort” with which he experienced the withdrawal of the bronze medal in the marathon from the Paris Paralympic Games to Elena Congost. “Miguel reacted immediately and we told him that we were going to support him in everything. We have not yet received a response from the International Paralympic Committee to which we requested, not that they take away the medal from the Japanese athlete, but that they award two bronzes, which was what fairer. This does not depend on us, what does is the granting of the scholarship that we are going to guarantee,” he stated.

Finally, individually, he praised the figures of Álvaro Martín and Rafa Nadal. Of the double medalist running in Paris 2024 and who recently announced his retirement, whom he sees as a “reference” and who in his position at CELAD “is going to make a great contribution”, although they still have to “speak with him” which will happen with your scholarship.

Regarding the Spaniard, who will end his career in the Davis Cup Finals next November, he acknowledged that “objectively, it is difficult to match” what he has achieved and that it could lead him to be considered the best Spanish athlete in the story. “The facts are quite difficult to discuss. I have always said yes, that Rafa is the great one we have there, but he is not the only one,” he said.

“THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES” ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S BET

Rodríguez Uribes also opened his presence at this informative breakfast by reviewing the lines of his project, of which he highlighted that despite suffering “two major wars and a terrible pandemic”, the Government opted for sport, with an investment of “more than 1.8 billion in this six-year term” and placing it among “the 10 driving policies to get out of the economic crisis.”

In addition, the CSD has had 381 million, “the highest budget in history.” “The balance speaks for itself, the numbers are clearly explanatory of the Government’s commitment to investing and strengthening sport,” he explained.

Uribes explained that the new Sports Law makes sport “a matter of State” on the pillars of being “a right for everyone, an industry and its values”, and highlighted the ‘Team Spain’ program as “a reference brand of the Spanish sport” and the importance of carrying out an Athlete’s Statute that “looks forward and also backwards to resolve gaps in the past” and the PROAD Program, which together with ‘Team Spain’ and the ADO “have helped a lot to the successes of Spanish sport together, of course, with the good work of federations”.

“Now, the roadmap until 2027 involves the modernization of sports facilities, a national strategy against sedentary lifestyle, the regulatory development of the Sports Law with the approval of two Royal Decrees and the implementation of a code of good governance “continued Uribes, who also recalled that CELAD (Spanish Commission for the Fight against Doping in Sports) “has been reinforced.” “I think he’s going to have good times from now on.