THE President of Navarre, María Chivitechaired this Wednesday the presentation of the 2024 sports merit medalsin which the Gold medal to archer Carmen Rubio for his “exceptional and brilliant” career as an athlete and for the achievements obtained in various championships such as the Paralympic Games.
During the event organized at Throne Room of the Palace of NavarrePresident Chivite also granted the Silver medal to 25 people distinguished for their sporting and managerial career. In addition, he achieved four Honorable mentions in order to “recognize relevant actions and trajectories in favor of the promotion of sporting practice in the Provincial Community”.
During his speech, Chivite emphasized that “sport is one of the activities that most integrates us and they unite us as people, because through values such as respect, tolerance or surpassing ourselves, we cross the barriers of appearance and difference, and we manage to connect as people .
He further emphasized that The exercise possibilities are “virtually endless”and that “we can all practice it, at any age and in any condition, with the enormous benefit it produces on our physical and mental health, and therefore on our quality of life”.
Immediately, Chivite was accompanied by the President of the Parliament of Navarre, Unai Hualde; the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Rebeca Esnaola; and the general director of the Navarro Institute of Sport and Physical Activity, Jorge Aguirre.
It is one of the events organized as part of the Navarre Day Programwhich is commemorated on December 3. With these medals, the Provincial Executive awards the highest distinction in the sporting field and recognizes the best sporting careers of both individuals and technical or sports personnel who have stood out for the promotion of physical activity in the Provincial Community.
CARMEN RUBIO, “GREAT REFERENCE”
THE Gold Medal for Sports Merit of the year 2024 It was awarded to archer Carmen Rubio for her “exceptional and brilliant” sporting career as an archer. Chivite recognized Rubio’s athletic background, who noted that “minority sports like archery typically require extra effort, including the need to combine work and training.”
To which he added that “it places you as a excellent reference for conditioned people for the clear example that it is possible to achieve the objectives that we set for ourselves.
María Chivite also added that the archery is the third woman to receive this medalafter Nerea Pena and Marta Mendía. “I’m sure there will be many more, because this government’s commitment to women’s sport is decisive,” she said.
25 SILVER MEDALS AND FOUR HONORABLE MENTIONS
Before delivering the Gold medal Special mention was given to the Boscos Mountain Club for its 50th anniversary, to the La Peña Sports Club and the Navarra Basketball Federation for its 75th anniversary, and to the Navarra Mountain Sports and Climbing Federation for its centenary.
Additionally, they received the Silver medal athletes, coaches and technical staff from eleven disciplines such as weightlifting, rugby, basketball, football, golf, fencing, cycling, athletics, skating, wushu and archery arc: Manuel Fernández, Miguel Sanz, Santiago Iriarte, José Ignacio Labayen, Rubén Lorente, José Antonio López, Heraclio Jiménez, Francisco Javier Garraus, José Manuel Veiga, Margari Basarte, Iñaki Galdeano, Pablo Unzue, Javier San Martín, Fernando Hernández, Maite Marín, Juan Cruz Izura, Esteban Baigorri, Fermín Herrero, José Garín and Joaquín Esparza.
They also received the Silver medal Catalina Viedma and Soledad Chueca, respectively sports coordinators of the Aranguren Valley for 33 years and of the Buñuel Town Hall for 32 years; and Luis Morales, as a sports technician for 38 years at Cortes City Hall.
Just like him former footballer Raúl Garcíawho received a silver medal in recognition of his sporting career as a professional footballer in entities such as CAOsasuna, Atlético de Madrid, Athletic Club and for “achieving absolute internationality” with the national team Spanish.
Also, in this act, chivite I wanted to emphasize that “hand in hand with sportIn Navarre we are traveling the path of integration, equality and improving the quality of life of people.
MEETING WITH OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC ATHLETES
Before delivery of Sports Merit MedalsChivite held a meeting with several athletes and technical staff who participated in the last edition of the Olympic Games organized this summer in Paris.
The president thus received the judoka, Ariane Toro; the athlete Asier Martínez; silver medalist cyclist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Eduardo Santas; and the players of the Spanish football team and gold medal at the last Olympic Games, Jon Pacheco and Aimar Oroz.
In addition, the reception took place in the presence of the video analyst of the Spanish handball team and bronze medal at the games in the French capital, Fermín Iturri.
During the reception ceremony, which took place in the Green Room of the Navarra Palace, María Chivite presented each athlete and the sports coach with a commemorative plaque.
