If something characterizes Raúl Chapado, president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA) since 2016It is prudence. The Abulense always measures every word and is very complicated, if not impossible, 'catch him' in a resignation because he always speaks with knowledge of all the issues that incumbent for his sport.
That is why they have surprised the hardness and firmness of their words to the conclusion of the European teams at the Vallehermoso stadium in Madrid. The president of the RFEA always usually makes an assessment of the championship when he ends with the Spanish press accredited but this time the shots did not go out there.
Initially surprised the insistence with which Paloma Monreal, diligent Director of Communication and Marketing of La RFEArequired the presence of all media in that improvised press conference, noting that their boss was going to make “important” statements.
We are a tremendously punished federation for new criteria that demonstrate a deep ignorance of high performance and athletics and condemns the preparation of athletes
However, it was impossible to predict a 'cracked' of this caliber coming from someone like Raúl Chapado, who from the beginning of his appearance, in the middle of the main stand of the main tribune of Vallehermoso, was very sharp.
“We are a tremendously punished federation by new criteria that demonstrate a deep ignorance of high performance and athletics and condemns the preparation of athletes because We will arrive worse than the rivals to other championships such as the Tokyo World Cup“The maximum leader of Spanish athletics said without ambiguity.
“It gives me sadness and discouragement. We do not understand why sport with more medals – two oros, a silver and a bronze – and more diplomas in the Olympic Games in Paris 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 denounced.
We do not understand why sport with more medals – two oros, a silver and a bronze – and more diplomas in the Olympic Games in Paris is punished in this way. Criteria have been applied that in our opinion do not reward federations that work well and have a successful cycle
“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, “said Chapado, who has tried to redirect the situation with the CSD without success.
“They tell us that good, that subsidies are compensated with other things, but I do not 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 athletes that have been reduced so far in everything, “he said.
The march, great harmed
“We have asked for explanations and have not answered us. I sent a letter fifteen days agoI have not received answers and talked to the director general, who attended me very kindly, and I have transferred all this that I am telling. Also with the deputy director of high competition and until today. They have told us that well, that the criteria are these, but I know Penalizes especially to the march 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. 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 there to take the step and collect the witness he has left Álvaro. María Pérez will be the leader of this team but we have great young people who can be there fighting to get the medal in Los Angeles, “he added about the 'contempt' suffered by the march.
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 to get the resources of other sources
Plated stressed that, despite this situation, They will “give absolute priority not to cut a single euro or in direct aid to athletes, or in coaches contractsnor limit that any athlete who has earned the right to compete at the international level does it. “
“For the rest we have to make a severe adjustment because we do not have the resources. If you see the scores of the sports model, the Spanish Athletics Federation is the twelfth scoring and now we must assess whether the results of the Federation are in that position. They congratulate us for our sports models but the score is 75 out of 100. The report is public, you can see“The Abulense said with a leisurely but energetic tone.
I believe that it is more a high ignorance of the team that is right now on the Council. I think it is unknown deeply and that they are playing even with mathematical biases and changing criteria that also do not go against us only
“I am tremendously realistic and I think they make us the most difficult things. I think it is not understood that sport with more success is the most difficult things. It gives the feeling that there is little interest in that athletics do well. I have to say it and I receive it like this. It is the first time I make a type of statements like that. I cannot limit the legitimate right that coaches and athletes have to fight for their dreams and their objectives, which are already demanding“He added about it.
Lack of professionalism
“My top priority is now getting more resources so that nothing is missing”Said Chapado, who does not believe that there is a political decision in all this cumbersome matter.
“I think it is more a high ignorance of the team that is right now on the Council. I think it is unknown deeply and that they are playing even with mathematical biases and changing criteria that also do not go against us alone,” said the president of the RFEA, suggesting that it is a problem that concerns all Spanish sport.
From Team Spain we received 500,000 or 600,000 euros last year and this year 243,000. There are federations that have received about one million euros
Chapado was questioned for concrete figures with respect to last year and had no problem in citing them: “From Team Spain we received 500,000 or 600,000 euros last year and this year 243,000. There are federations that have received about one million euros. We are the most global sport of all, in which it is more difficult to achieve a medal because there is more participation by event and by countries and apart is the difficulty of genetic condition“He recalled.
There is more money now. You have seen that a sport has been gratified with more than fifteen million for a sub22 league
“In the end it seems that we do not have to spend money to prepare the medals and it is sad, but we do not have to accept this reality. There is more money now. You have seen that a sport has been gratified with more than fifteen million for a sub22 league.” Plated refers to the new Ustesto U League, which will receive 5 million per year in the first three seasons.
“There is no less money, they have told us that. Do not take away money from eating and for athletes and coaches because we do not want money to travel to Benidorm. We are in favor of innovation and other things but the first thing is that and without that we are dynamiting the future of Spanish athletics“He concluded.
