The ceremony, held last Saturday, June 6th, served to bid farewell to the basketball, futsal, and volleyball season, awarding the top three finishers in each category. The event brought together numerous families, students, and teachers, emphasizing the importance of camaraderie, friendship, and especially, fair play.
The regional secretary of Catholic Schools of Madrid (ECM), Emilio Díaz, stressed that fair play is "the backbone of our educational project," thanking the "magnificent team" of the organization and the efforts of sponsoring companies and, above all, the families.
“"Fair play is the backbone of our educational project."
The gala was attended by the mayor of Tres Cantos, Jesús Moreno, and retired athletes such as NBA player Joe Arlauckas and futsal international Raúl Campos. A football juggling show provided the final flourish.
This year's 'Fair Play' award was presented to the male youth futsal team from the Escuela Comarcal Arzobispo Morcillo in Valdemoro. The coordinator of ECM's Sports Department, Javier Esteban, highlighted that the team "wanted to win, but always prioritizing fun, respect, camaraderie, and decisions, both individual and collective, in favor of the team."
“"Just 25 minutes from here, the Pope is visiting us today. I'm going to ask you for a small effort, the last one of the season. I'm going to ask you, alluding to the theme of his visit, to lift our gaze and think about all the good moments of the season and all those who made them possible."
Emilio Díaz echoed the papal visit's theme, "lift our gaze," interpreting it as an "exercise of going beyond, of putting ourselves in the other's place, in their shoes, and trying to feel what the other feels and think as the other thinks. In short, of lifting our gaze above ourselves." A message that resonated strongly with the attendees.
