The president of the Royal Spanish Handball Federation (RFEBM), Francisco V. Blázquez, assured that “it has been worth it” to be able to organize the two Pre-Olympic men’s handball tournaments in Granollers (Barcelona) and women’s in Torrevieja (Alicante) for having been able get the Olympic ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for both Hispanics and Warriors, although he acknowledged that it is “very complex” to organize them and that they continue to struggle financially to be able to pay.
In an interview with Europa Press, at the Tavi and Carmona Sports Palace in Torrevieja where the Guerreras achieved the Olympic ticket, following in the wake of the success of the Hispanics in Granollers, President Blázquez was forceful: “Yes, it was worth it worth organizing the two Pre-Olympics”.
“The truth is that it has been worth it because perhaps no one is aware of the complications when you play outside. Because of the environment where you are, because of the situation, perhaps also because of the support of the public, because of the multitude of situations, playing at home makes it much easier and also more attractive for us, but it is also a bigger job that we have to do. “, be sincere.
And he detailed the “very complex organization” of the Pre-Olympics, especially due to the short organizational time they had, especially in Torrevieja. “Organize them and try to make them successful in terms of organization, sports, finances… It is very complex. It is true that we are still struggling with the financial issue and I hope that we will get through it without any problems“he acknowledged.
But, on a sporting level, he celebrated having fought to obtain both Olympic qualification tournaments. “The truth is that it is a success and it is very important to be able to organize them. With the little time or the few weeks that we have had, we have been able to take advantage of what we had in two dedicated cities like Torrevieja and Granollers and that everything is easy and that everything go out and ask for it, so that this works today,” he celebrated.
Furthermore, he believes that, if they had not been hosts, it could have cost more to see Hispanos y Guerreras in Paris 2024. “I am one of those who thinks that we would not have that extra energy and strength, that extra help that the public gives us, and perhaps it would cost us a little more. and we would have more complex and difficult situations. It’s different to play at home and be able to show the fans what you have,” he said.
On a personal level, regarding the role of the Guerreras in Torrevieja, he acknowledged having suffered a lot in the opening duel, in which the Ambros Martín players shone in the victory against the Czech Republic (21-31). “I suffered in the game against the Czech Republic because of what it represented, because we had just lost by 8 goals in the World Cup in Denmark, it was a pretty hard blow. We didn’t want to be in the game and we came with that desire, that strong charge, and it was also the beginning of the Pre-Olympic, where the players came out with their nerve,” he noted.
“I wouldn’t have known how to predict the result, but I would never have gone with a goal difference as high as it was. In addition, I still had tension and I began to relax when I saw that the Guerreras knew how to stay on top and contain some more complicated situations. Then, against Argentina, I felt afraid. Because Argentina played a great game against the Netherlands, but the fear that they had, or that I perhaps had, was the confidence of thinking that we were facing a more affordable rival,” he acknowledged.
“My concern above all was that and it was confirmed, because later in the game we saw the difficulties we had. The most special thing is that we arrived at the last game with our homework done, with the evaluation approved,” celebrated Blázquez, who enjoyed the victory against Argentina that gave the ticket to Paris and, in the final duel against the Netherlands, he regretted that the full party was not given, in a very close defeat.
Asked about the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he assured that he does not like to “make predictions.” “I always say that we will fight and try to be in the medals, because that is the gene of the Hispanics and the Guerreras. Now the teams must also take that leap to try to get an Olympic medal for the entire sport and for Spanish handball, because our country also deserves it,” he said.
With ten years in office, she faces a new term with enthusiasm and even more so after learning that Spain will host the Women’s Handball World Cup again in 2029, after doing so in 2021. “People tell me why I never get tired. What What happens is that many times it is true that the events, the months, the days, the years go by and well, now we are going to have one more effort, one more legislature to try,” he said.
“And this helps, doesn’t it? And perhaps all the encouragement from people to keep moving forward and never telling me when I’m going to leave helps me more. I have the hope and the desire, the day I stop having the hope and desire I will take a step back, but it is difficult because I have too much energy.“, acknowledged the president of the RFEBM with a laugh.