President Gustavo Petro and the Olympic medalist Ángel Barajas.
Photo: El Espectador Archive
Summary and Fast Informame
Listen to this article
Audio generated with Google
Ángel Barajas, who was Silver Olympic medalist in the Artistic Gymnastics of Paris 2024, raised his voice to the budgetary crisis that Colombian sport is going through. In a video posted on his social networks, the young Gimnasta expressed concern about the drastic reduction of the Ministry of Sports Budget, which went from $ 1.3 billion in 2025 to $ 400 billion, and which is projected in just $ 198 billion by 2026.
“We need a sufficient budget to have good preparation,” said Barajas, appealing to the State's commitment to high performance athletes.
Help 💔! Ángel Barajas speaks for all Colombian sport asking for help after the continuous cut to the budget, and the low quota designated 2026.
Please 🙌🏻, don't leave our athletes's dreams behind! pic.twitter.com/dNqieWXrQI
– Colombian sport 🇨🇴 (@Dortcolombia) July 25, 2025
“We do not fail”: the request for athletes of athletes to President Petro
In his message, Barajas made a direct call to President Gustavo Petro. “I extend an invitation to President Gustavo Petro, because for this we need a sufficient budget to have a very good preparation and have quality competitions and maintain the illusion of Colombians,” said the Cucuteño, who became one of the country's sports idols after his historic participation in the Olympic Games.
In addition, in his speech he sent a direct phrase to the president: “President, I hope he does not fail me and does not fail Colombian sport.”
“Today I want to represent the dream of all Colombian children and young people who find a shelter in the sport to get ahead and inspire every day,” said the athlete, adding that this situation hits “a generation of athletes that dreams of going far, but that trains with immense sacrifices.”
In his message, he highlighted the transforming power of sport and its positive impact in the country: “Sport, with its support, can give Colombia many more joys.”
The intervention of the Olympic medalist reflects a growing concern around the sustainability of national sport, which finds in the voice of its protagonists a form of resistance and called collective action to defend the constructed.
🚴🏻⚽🏀 The latest in sports?: Everything you should know about world sport is in the spectator
