La Gala del Deporte de La Rioja celebrará el próximo 26 de marzo, en Logroño, una nueva edición de una cita que servirá para reconocer los logros de numerosos deportistas, técnicos, clubes y colectivos del deporte riojano y en la que también se otorgará la Mención de Honor del Deporte de La Rioja al seleccionador nacional de fútbol masculino de nuestro país, Luis de La Fuente, «un merecido reconocimiento no solo por sus méritos deportivos con una dilatada experiencia como jugador y entrenador, sino también y principalmente por ser un gran embajador de La Rioja allí donde va y sobre todo de los valores deportivos que representa», ha destacado Azcona.
El director general de Deporte y Juventud, Diego Azcona, y el presidente de la Asociación Riojana de Prensa Deportiva, Chema Jodra, han presentado este martes, 4 de marzo, la Gala del Deporte de La Rioja 2024 en la que el Gobierno de La Rioja «distinguirá el esfuerzo, trabajo, dedicación y sacrificio de hasta 63 personas o entidades vinculadas al deporte en nuestra Comunidad en una cita que, por primera vez, reconocerá a los campeones de España del Deporte Universitario».
El jarrero Luis de la Fuente será, en esta ocasión, el riojano distinguido con la Mención de Honor del Deporte de La Rioja 2024 fruto de su amplia y exitosa trayectoria deportiva vinculada al mundo del fútbol, «siendo el vigente campeón de la Eurocopa, disputada en Alemania el pasado año, y de la Liga de Naciones, celebrada en Países Bajos en 2023. Además, en su palmarés como entrenador figura la Plata Olímpica en Tokio 2020, la Eurocopa sub 21 y Sub 19 que vienen a unirse a sus logros en su etapa como deportista: dos ligas, una Copa del Rey y una Supercopa en su etapa en el Atlético de Bilbao».
During the event, which will take place on March 26 at 8:00 PM at the Palacio de los Deporte de La Rioja, 34 mentions of sports merit of La Rioja 2024 will be awarded to athletes and clubs, whose awards have been made by the Riojan photographer Lorena Martínez.
In addition, up to 18 sports distinctions in School Age 2024 will be awarded, whose recognitions have been created by different members of the Association for Mental Health La Rioja (ARFES). As Azcona has pointed out, «the awardees have been Spanish champions in their modality and category, or have been members of national teams in their respective disciplines in National-International competitions.»
Rugby player Marta Pilar Castresana and swimmer Iván Martínez Sota, Best Promising Riojan Athlete of the past year, will receive the distinction as the Best Riojan Athletes 2024 following their great results.
As for the best promises, pelota player Carmelo Loza and basketball player Adriana Díaz will be the awardees in a gala where Coloma Team Bike will also be recognized as the Best Sports Entity of La Rioja 2024.
On the other hand, José Neila Rueda, founder of C.D. Valvanera in 1973 and C.D. Anguiano in 1995, will be recognized with the Sports Merit A Life Dedicated to Sports. Likewise, during the gala, the Riojan athlete Valvanera Guridi will be awarded the distinction as the Best Veteran Athlete and the footballer Víctor Varea as the Best Athlete with Disability.
The commitment to sports by the Riojan company Embalajes Blanco through the sponsorship of entities such as the Riojan Pelota Federation, various sports events, or football clubs, will also be recognized with the Sports Business Recognition.
In addition, the Sportsmanship Award ‘Ángel Sancho’ will be received by La Rioja Athletics for the different committed and solidarity initiatives it carries out throughout the year.
Chema Jodra has concluded by emphasizing the objective of this gala «to be a stimulus and recognize the work and effort of all Riojan athletes who are fighting for a goal, also to those who are on the verge of a triumph that is yet to come.»
A gala that they hope will become a celebration of Riojan sports, «not only of the awardees, but also of all those who dedicate themselves daily to participate in various tests and championships that take place throughout the year.»
