The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has criticized the statements made by the Sports Councilor of the government of Canarian Coalition and Popular Party (CC and PP) after the controversy generated by the exclusion of jet ski champion Alejandro Rodríguez from the recent Sports Gala.
The socialist councilor, Celeste Callero, has shown her rejection of some words that, in her opinion, “not only do not solve the problem, but aggravate it by evidencing a worrying lack of sensitivity, of respect and of appreciation towards the island's sports talent”.
The counselor justified what happened by pointing out that “we all believe we have our Messi at home” and appealing that in sports one must “know how to win and know how to lose”, statements that the PSOE considers “absolutely out of place”.
“When a father has to publicly denounce that his son, champion in his discipline, has not been invited by his own institution, the least that can be demanded is an apology. However, what we have seen are statements that try to justify the unjustifiable and despise local talent,” he stated.
Callero considers it especially serious that, given a situation that has generated discomfort in the sports environment, the island official of the CC and PP government chooses to “downplay and divert the focus, instead of assuming errors."
"These statements are not up to par"
“These statements are not up to par. One cannot speak of the values of sport while ignoring those who represent them with their effort and their achievements,” he/she/it has stressed.
From the PSOE they have insisted that what happened reflects a fundamental problem: “We are facing a government of CC and PP that does not value its island referents”.
In this sense, the socialist councilor was forceful with the discourse of the governing group: “Then they will fill their interventions with appeals to defend what is ours, but the reality is different. The only defense they make is that of their own. When they speak of ‘what is ours’, in reality they are speaking of themselves.”
“This government forgets something basic: recognition galas are not for institutional self-promotion, but to highlight those who have achieved merits with their effort and talent. They are not events to show off or to build a narrative, but to recognize careers and successes that represent Lanzarote. And when that meaning is lost, what is distorted is not just an act, but the respect towards those who should be its true protagonists.”
Finally, Callero has demanded an immediate rectification: “What is called for is to apologize, correct, and guarantee that all athletes on this island, without exception, receive the recognition they deserve. Everything else is superfluous.”