This Wednesday, the kings received Olympic and Paralympic athletes who participated in the Paris Games to congratulate them on the medals they had won and, at the same time, value the solidarity that the world of sport is showing towards those affected by the damage in the Valencian Community.
The meeting took place at the El Pardo Palace in Madrid, where Felipe and Letizia held a talk with the hundred athletes who attended the event, to whom the head of state addressed a few words in recognition of their work.
“You have made us very excited. We thank you and congratulate you for what you have achieved. You have all had a display of effort, values and sportsmanship that fills us with pride,” the king remarked before the delegation, headed by the Minister of Education and Sports, Pilar Alegría; the president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes; that of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, and that of the Paralympic, Alberto Durán.
Spain won 18 medals in Paris – five gold, four silver and nine bronze – and in the Paralympics, 40 – seven gold, eleven silver and twenty-two bronze.
In addition to praising the Olympic participation, Mr. Felipe referred to the tragedy that occurred in the Valencian Community with the floods and highlighted the role that the world of sport is playing in collaborating to repair the damage.
“It has been a very strong blow. Many athletes from the area have not been able to come, some have. But to all of them and the entire world of sport that has been directly affected, we want you to feel, and for us all to feel, that there is also to help through sport, as is being demonstrated these days,” he remarked.
According to the monarch, “teamwork and solidarity” are values that athletes know very well and “something that they also have to demonstrate outwardly with society at this time very clearly with those affected by dana.”
Among those attending the reception was Granada athlete María Pérez, double medalist in Paris, who traveled a few days ago to the affected area of Valencia with a truck and two vans with essential material.
“I left María Pérez, the athlete, in a drawer, with her medals and training, and there was María the person. I have a vocation and that is that I like to help others and I try to do everything in my power. I gave everything I could. I had and even a little more. I feel lucky to have been able to help,” Pérez told the press.
According to the Granada walker, there were people who were left with nothing who hugged her when she provided them with a plate of hot food. “They are going to need a lot of help in these months,” Pérez added to show that the collaboration has to extend to the medium and long term.
The Madrid taekwondo player Adrián Vicente was another of those who traveled to different towns in Valencia last weekend to help with food, clothing and material to acquaintances who have lost everything.
“I did the training in the morning and then I traveled with a friend in a van,” said Vicente, who resumed his sports preparation on Monday.
The Valencian gymnast Míriam Martínez, a native of Pobla de Vallbona, regretted “not having been able to help.” “I would have liked it,” said Martínez, whose family has not been affected.
Among the athletes received by the kings was the badminton player Carolina Marín, who starred in one of the images of the Paris Games after the serious knee injury she suffered in the semifinals.
The authorities have been joined by Miguel Carballeda, who handed over the presidency of the Paralympic Committee to Durán on October 25 after two decades in office.
