Well, if our talented young sportsmen and women have anything to say about it, there sure is!
In a zone of Europe where so many other industries have waned so far from their glory days (tropical fruits have suffered a serious downturn, with the tourism in Andalusia seemingly cut to the bone and let’s not even go there with the construction bubble scenario), it certainly is refreshing to see how sports are taking on a higher profile; a profile which includes national and international championships!
In fact, local politicians are finally starting to realise that the recognition of these athletically-gifted local teenagers and young adults is not only a pretty good excuse for a nice bit of public relations and vote cultivating.
Hopefully they haven’t missed the point about the importance this industry could offer to the future of young people here, as well as the opportunity for building up the standard, the local infrastructure and the possibility of holding championship competitions in all areas of sport, bring in the punters and with any luck, the sponsors and the big spenders.
If the people in power can imagine this bigger picture, then perhaps Almuñécar and its sporty superheroes stand a chance of shining beyond the local stadium.
It’s a good start that during the last week of December, Almuñécar’s councillor of Sport, Luis Aragón, together with his associates Maria del Carmen Reinoso, José Manuel Ferndández, Censi Ruis, Manolo Contreras and Frnacisco Fernández, to present awards of recognition to various individuals and teams of padel champions, handball enthusiasts, athletics competitors, table tennis and tennis players, kempo combatants, volleyball players, as well as motorcycle plus BMX and BT Rally enthusiasts.
Of course, Señor Aragón and his associates were quick to point out that these trophies were not only in recognition of the personal achievements of each of these valiant sports people, but also as a thank you to the endless list of family and friends who support them.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)