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 of the Mentor 10 program, organized to commemorate the International Day of the Roma People and 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. Also collaborating were goalkeepers Adrián San Miguel and Noelia Gil from Real Betis and Real Betis Féminas, respectively; 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 a guide in their growth as athletes and as individuals, something essential thanks to the values that sports bring. It is a program that conveys the culture of effort and work, and that is what we were looking for, because we want to develop champions in values, champions in life.»
The Minister of Culture and Sports also noted that «our mentors are reference points in Andalusian and Spanish sports, addressing various topics in different sessions such as values education or the importance of healthy habits and active living, sharing their life experience of effort and overcoming challenges from school age to elite level, which is an important example for young Andalusians and all citizens.»
On 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, culture, gastronomy, and language the Roma people.»
López pointed out that in the context of commemorating the arrival of the Roma people to the Iberian Peninsula 600 years ago, this event is being held because «sports is a wonderful tool for inclusion.» She emphasized that «sports promote 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 of 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, starting with a freestyle show by Javi and Paloma, followed by a relay system, where all the boys and girls present participated in different activities.
A healthy snack was also provided, 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 the school population, promote healthy lifestyle habits through sports, and nurture Andalusian sports talents with the guidance of mentors in the early stages of their sporting careers. It also seeks to promote healthy and active lifestyles and values such as the culture of effort, respect for diversity, fair play, and consideration for opponents, judges, or referees.
Mentor 10 is an excellent sports program, with 34 elite athletes with exemplary careers participating 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.