The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia Del Pozo, and the Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, Loles López, have participated in the Sevilla 3000 Sports Center in Polígono Sur in an activity from the Mentor 10 program, organized on the occasion of the International Day of the Roma People and the commemoration of the 600th anniversary of the documented entry of the Roma people into the Iberian Peninsula.
The activity was led by two mentors, Cristina Morales, world kickboxing champion, and Juan Bautista Castilla ‘Chamba’, ultraman world champion. Additionally, goalkeepers Adrián San Miguel and Noelia Gil, from Real Betis and Real Betis Féminas respectively, also participated; as well as jugglers and YouTubers Javi and Paloma Freestyle; pedagogue and social educator Antonio Chamorro; and environmental activist Quique Bolsitas.
Del Pozo emphasized in her speech that the Mentor 10 program «was born because we saw the need for young Andalusian athletes to have role models to look up to, who could serve as guides in their growth as athletes and individuals, something essential thanks to the values that sports provide. It is a program that promotes a culture of effort and work, and that is what we were looking for, because we want to train champions in values, champions in life.»
The Minister of Culture and Sports also noted that «our mentors are a reference in Andalusian and Spanish sports, addressing in different sessions like today’s topics such as values education or the importance of healthy habits and active living, and sharing their life experience of effort and overcoming challenges from school age to reaching elite level, which is an important example for young Andalusians and all citizens.»
For her part, the Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality, Loles López, congratulated the Roma people and stated that «we are all Andalusians because we carry in our roots, in our culture, in our gastronomy, and in our language the Roma people.»
López pointed out that within the framework of the commemoration of the Roma people’s arrival 600 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, this event is celebrated because «sports is a wonderful tool for inclusion.» In this regard, she emphasized that «sports promotes values such as respect, equality, and effort.» «On a court, like this one, we are all equal and with Mentor 10, boys and girls will see how dreams come true,» she stressed.
There was also more institutional presence, with authorities from both Ministries, as well as the Commissioner of Polígono Sur, Jaime Bretón; and representatives from the various entities and clubs that collaborated in the event, Municipal Sports Institute; Real Betis Foundation; Andalusian Volunteer Platform; Vencedores Sports Club; Monsalvete Sports Club; Fútbol Más; and Alalá Foundation.
After the authorities’ speeches, the two mentors, Cristina Morales and Chamba, answered a series of questions, which then led to the practical part of the day, with an initial freestyle show by Javi and Paloma, followed by a relay system in which all the boys and girls present participated in various activities.
There was also a healthy snack and the day ended with a percussion performance by Emilio Carafé, accompanied by students from different schools of the Alalá Foundation and an award ceremony.
Program Objective
The Mentor 10 program, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, aims to instill values in school-age population, promote healthy lifestyle habits through sports, and support the training of Andalusian sports talents with mentors guiding them in the initial phase of their sports careers. It also aims to promote healthy and active lifestyles and values such as the culture of effort, respect for diversity, fair play, and consideration of opponents, judges, or referees.
Mentor 10 is an excellent sports program, in which 34 elite athletes with exemplary careers participate in this seventh edition, including Cisco García, Berni Rodríguez, Paco Gaviño, Pedro García, Sarah Almagro, Adrián Miramón, Ana Pérez, Natalia Baldizzone, Pablo Martínez, Cayetano García, María Pérez, Carmen Herrera, Celia Jiménez, Alfonso Cabello, Carlos Marchena, José Manuel Quintero, Emilio Martín, Cristina Morales, Juan Bautista Castilla, Carmen Martín, Rubén Alcántara, Adrián Gavira, María Pujol, Lourdes Mohedano, Blanca Manchón, José Manuel Ruiz, Fátima Gálvez, Damián Quintero, María Peláez, Jaime Canalejo, Javier García, Ayoub Ghadfa, Rocío Delgado, and Carolina Marín.