European Sports Celebrate Europe Day This Weekend
This weekend, the Spanish sports world will come together to celebrate Europe Day, which takes place on Sunday, with the #ElDeporteConEuropa campaign, organised by the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Higher Sports Council (CSD). According to a report by Servimedia, dozens of competitions across the country will highlight the link between sport and Europe and the defence of its values.
The campaign, which aims to promote the importance of European values in sport, will see LaLiga develop its own initiative with the slogan #LaLigaConEuropa. Several sports federations will also show their support by displaying EU symbols, such as the flag and anthem, during their respective competitions. This celebration comes at a significant time, marking 80 years since the end of World War II, 40 years since the signing of the Treaty of Accession of Spain and Portugal to the EU, and 75 years since the Schuman Declaration, which led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community, the precursor to the European Union.
In a special event, a commemorative Europe Day jersey was presented to one of the riders during the sixth stage of La Vuelta Femenina, between Becerril de Campos and Baltanás (Palencia), on Friday. The cycling competition features nearly 200 riders from 21 teams, covering a distance of 748 kilometres over seven stages from April 4 to Saturday. As Servimedia reports, the riders will be competing in a challenging event that showcases the skills and endurance of female cyclists.
On Saturday, the fourth stage of the Liga AXA de Natación Paralímpica will feature Iratxe García, President of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, who will participate in the inauguration ceremony, where the European anthem will be played. This event highlights the commitment of European sports organisations to promoting inclusion and diversity in sport.
On Sunday, an institutional event will take place in the box of the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys (Barcelona) before the ‘clásico’ football match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, with the presence of authorities and the presentation of a commemorative flag. The players will take to the field accompanied by children wearing EU sports kits and carrying European flags. The club’s standard-bearers will carry European flags on the sidelines of the field before the match, and the captains of the 42 teams from LaLiga EA Sports (First Division) and LaLiga HyperMotion (Second Division) will wear a armband with the European flag during the 21 matches played on the day.
The Spanish sports federations will deploy European flags, banners, and armbands to celebrate Europe Day during their competitions between Friday and Sunday, and will play the European anthem before their matches and competitions. As Servimedia notes, this celebration demonstrates the strong link between sport and European values, highlighting the importance of unity, solidarity, and fair play in the sporting world.
