The spectacular setting of Jameos del Agua hosted this Monday the VII Lanzarote Sports Gala, an event organized by the Island Sports Service of the Cabildo de Lanzarote that brought together the main protagonists of the sports field of the island. The evening was marked by emotion and recognition of athletes, clubs and entities that have left their mark in the past season, highlighting not only their achievements, but also their effort, dedication and commitment to the values of sport.
The president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, said that "in Lanzarote and La Graciosa we are fortunate to have an excellent sports community, with athletes and teams that not only succeed in their disciplines, but also inspire the youngest." "Sport is part of the identity of the conejeros and conejeras. Once again, tonight has served as a tribute to those who are building their legacy and are an example," he said.
The president, who sincerely congratulated all the winners, pledged "to continue supporting our clubs, our sports schools and the events that give visibility to our athletes."
"This gala is a reflection of the talent, effort and dedication of our athletes. Lanzarote has a sporting history that we can be proud of and a promising present that we must continue to promote. From the Cabildo, we will continue working to offer opportunities and resources to our athletes, ensuring that they continue to grow and represent our island with pride," said the Minister of Sports, Juan Monzón, who also wanted to thank the work of clubs, coaches, families and all the people who, day after day, make it possible for sport to remain a fundamental pillar in Lanzarote and La Graciosa.
The gala began with a stellar performance by the Bohemia Lanzarote group, who were also in charge of closing the event. One of the most special moments of the night was the presence of the Olympic athlete Chema Martínez, who served as the godfather of the gala. His career and philosophy of life, based on perseverance, overcoming and passion for sport, served as inspiration for all attendees. During his speech, Martínez highlighted the importance of daily work and the spirit of sacrifice, encouraging young athletes to continue pursuing their dreams.
In this edition, the athletes and teams that have marked an unforgettable year in the history of island sport were recognized. In the category of Individual Sports Achievement, the winners were Ray Zapata, an Olympic gymnast who continues to reap international successes after an Olympic diploma in the past Olympic Games in Paris, and Carolina Bravo, a prominent futsal athlete who has taken the name of Lanzarote to the top in this discipline. As for Collective Sports Achievements, the winners were Unión Sur Yaiza, for their historic promotion to the Second RFEF, and CDO Marítima, after achieving promotion to the 2nd RFEF Women's category for the first time in its history.
Delivery of mentions and awards
In addition to these recognitions, the gala served to honor the winners who had already been announced in January, who also received their deserved recognition at the event. Among them, the Sports Legend award was given to Aroa Merino, a benchmark in Lanzarote athletics for her impressive career and numerous achievements.
The award for Human Values went to Tomás Quesada, whose dedication and commitment to sport have been fundamental to the growth of many generations of athletes. For its part, the Club Natación Nadamás received the award for Youth Work, in recognition of its work in the training of young swimmers and its contribution to the development of this discipline on the island.
The award for the Promotion of Sport was given to Professor Guillermo González, for his tireless work in the dissemination and promotion of various sports in Lanzarote. In the category of Sports Research, the honoree was Emilio Tavío, for his contributions to the study and analysis of sailing on our island.
The Triatlón IES Yaiza was recognized in the category of Promotion of Native Sports, highlighting its contribution to the promotion of one of the sports events that unite sport and education on our island. Finally, the Spanish Under-23 Badminton Championship, held on the island, was distinguished as the Sports Event of the Year, in recognition of its organizational success and its impact on the projection of island sport at the national level.
The VII Lanzarote Sports Gala was once again consolidated as the benchmark event for the recognition of island sports talent. With emotional moments, inspiring speeches and a great celebration of the values of sport, the night made it clear that Lanzarote is a land of great athletes and that the future remains promising for sport on the island.