Raúl Chapado, president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation, He denounced this Sunday after the European of Nations in Madrid the economic reduction suffered by his entity by the Higher Sports Council chaired by Rodríguez Uribes and assured that they do not understand how they are being “punished in this way” by current Government of Pedro Sánchez.
The top leader of the RFEA wanted to “denounce, in quotes, the low support of the CSD”, which «It has reduced subsidies Like the CESA (Spanish age championship), the ordinary one to the Federation, which is to all sports programs that are destined for athletes and coaches, and also finally the Olympic Team Spain, ”said Chapado, to the media at the Vallehermoso stadium.
«We are a tremendously punished federation for new criteria that demonstrate a deep ignorance of high performance and athletics and that condemns the preparation of athletes because we will arrive worse prepared than rivals to other championships such as the Tokyo World Cup, ”he confessed.
More criticism of the CSD
«It gives me sadness and discouragement. We do not understand why Sport with more medals and more diplomas In the Olympic Games in Paris it is punished in this way. Criteria have been applied that in our opinion do not reward the federations that work well and have a successful cycle, ”he said.
«For me this is out of all logic. For example, the relays, which have dazzled, now we tell them that they do not have enough resources to prepare and adapt or have to travel very close to the competition because there are no resources. It is not understood, ”says Chapado, who has tried to redirect the situation with the CSD without success at the moment.
«They tell us good, that subsidies with other things are compensated, But I don't want to give me money for innovation. I want money to go to athletes. I am not claiming money for the Federation. I am claiming the money of the coaches and the athletes that have been reduced so far in everything, ”he said again.
«We have asked for explanations and have not answered us. I sent a letter fifteen days ago, I have not received answers and I have spoken with the director general, who attended me very kindly, and I have transferred all this that I am moving. Also with the deputy director of high competition and until today. They have told us that well, that the criteria are these, but it is especially penalized because, as María Pérez would say, there are two medals that seem free because Álvaro Martín retires, ”he said.
«We have to defend the march and continue supporting this team. Here it seems that we have no right to continue working with people like Paul McGrath, for example, or with so many young people who have demonstrated in the European Championship by teams that are willing to take the step and to collect the witness that has left Álvaro. María Pérez will be the leader of this team but we have great young people who can be fighting to get the medal in Los Angeles, ”he said.
«I am tremendously realistic and I think they put the most difficult things. I think it is not understood that the most successful sport is put the most difficult things. It gives the feeling that there is little interest in the athletics doing well. I have to say it and I receive it that way. It is the first time I make such a statements. I am not to give headlines, I am to have respect, but my feeling is that I have more work and that I have to continue working to get the resources from other sources. I cannot limit the legitimate right that coaches and athletes have to fight for their dreams and for their objectives, which are already demanding, ”he concluded.
