Lthe basque federations of swimming, canoeing, squash, fencing, table tennis, chess and motor racing have formally requested their official integration into their respective finternational editions. The action is part of the ‘Basque Sport’ initiative promoted by the Union of Basque Sports Federations (UFDV) and presented in Bilbao in an act in which the director of Physical Activity and Sport of the Basque Government, Gorka to the sourcelike angel Gurrutxaga and Leire of Gerenabarpresident and manager, respectively, of the UFDV.
These federations join those of mountain, surfing, weightlifting, boxing, rural sports, Basque pelota and soccerwhich did previously and disciplines such as kayak surf in which the Basque team officially competes and is world champion.
Iturriaga stated that these petitions “are only the beginning a long road that does nothing but respond to the demand of a very important part of Basque society to have representation in the international concert with sports practice”.
The person in charge of Physical Activity and Sport of the Basque executive has stressed that the applications “are not contra no one but favor of our sport and athletes. The internationalization process of our sport was already underway and the Basque Government is going to accompany our federations on this path”.
Gurrutxaga stressed that the objective of the UFDV is to “comply” with the Basque Sports Law which includes the “obligation” of the Union of Basque Sports Federations to “support and promote the birth and development of Basque sports teams” and their participation in national and international competitions.
Gerenabarrena stressed that the ‘Basque Sport’ initiative “is good for Basque sport” and also for athletes because “for the vast majority” it would mean “the possibility of living international sports experiences that for the great majority competition existing in its modalities will not be probable”.
