Players of the Colombian National Team in the previous semifinal of the Copa América Women's 2025 against Argentina at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado de Quito stadium (Ecuador).
Photo: Efe – Jóse Jácome
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The Colombian National Team, finalist of the Women's Copa América and already classified to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, joined the clamor of different national sport figures that have expressed their rejection of the cut in the budget for the sector for the coming years.
Through forceful messages addressed to President Gustavo Petro, four referents of the Tricolor, who will play on Saturday the final of the continental tournament against Brazil (4:00 pm), raised their voice for the future of Colombian sport.
“Mr. President, each medal is the effort of our athletes. Sport is not an expense, it is hope”said Catalina Usme, top scorer and historical reference of the team, in the phrase that starts the video addressed to the President of the Republic.
His partner, defender Carolina Arias also spoke: “Sport is not only joys, sport unites, inspires, transforms. Less budget is less country.”
In recent days, Colombian sport figures have turned on the alarms before the strong budget cut facing the Ministry of Sports. By 2025, the portfolio went from having $ 1.3 billion pesos to $ 400 billion.
In 2026, according to the project of the General Budget of the Nation presented by the Government, the amount assigned to the sport would be $ 310 billion pesos. The reduction has generated concern between athletes, coaches and leaders.
From the concentration in Ecuador, where this Saturday Colombia seeks its long -awaited first title in the Copa América Women's, Linda Caicedo also spoke. “Mr. President, no nation is built without sport. We do not cut what unites us most.”
To his message was added the archera Katherine Tapia, appears in the semifinals of the continental tournament, especially in the penalty series against Argentina: “When our athletes shine, a whole country gets up. Cutting sport is to turn off that pride.”
The Women's Colombia National Team on Monday assured its presence in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, its fourth classification to fair, a result that reflects the sustained growth of women's football in the country and the work of hundreds of women who have made this progress possible, often with limited resources.
The pronouncement of the players adds to the Other voices Authorized national sport. The Gimnasta Ángel Barajas, a multiple medalist in international competitions, the exciclist Rigoberto Urán and the gunfire Robert Farah, among others, also raised his voice about it.
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