Spain, the only European representative in the World Athletics elite

For the second consecutive year, Spain is competing for the ‘Best Federation’ award given by World Athletics. He is the sole representative of Europe. He will compete for the award, which will be presented in Monaco on December 11, along with Australia, Botswana, Chile, Thailand and the United States.

This award Award to a national governing body recognized for its sporting achievements throughout the year which has also contributed positively to the growth of athletes. The selected federations are nominated by each of the six area associations. In the case of Spain of European Athletics.

“It is a source of pride for all national athletics as not only sports results are appreciated but also the level of management., change and the capacity of the organization of athletes in each country. We compare ourselves to the most powerful mid-level federations on the European continent and the ability to beat Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands or Ireland recognizes the work of the whole team and the national athletic groups,” said Raúl Chapado in EFE, president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation.

The merits for which European Athletics chose Spain as the European candidate for the best federation the sporting achievements achieved at the World Cup in Budapest, with five medals, four of them gold, with the doubles of Álvaro Martín and María Pérez in the 20 and 35 kilometer walksbut also for the “introduction of innovative formats and projects in the country and at the grassroots level, the increase in the number of licenses, commercial partners and social networks and the gender leadership and conservation policy projects.”

The data endorses the nomination of World Athletics, which recognizes the work of the federation led by Raúl Chapado, which went from a budget of nine million upon his arrival in 2016 to the current sixteen.

“We have to base ourselves on data. We have grown almost 35% in the number of licenses and for the second time in history we have exceeded one hundred thousand, reaching 109. In addition, the license of coaches and judges has also increased and we have grown in the number of events, which there is 840 in the national calendar,” he pointed out.

The quality of the Spanish organization has international recognitionbecause in 2025 Madrid will host the European Team Championship and Canfranc-Pirineos the World Mountain/Trail Running Championship, and Valencia has also officially presented its candidacy to host the European Indoor Championship in 2027.

“The data tells us we’re headed in the right direction. We have no debtwe have improved development projects, strengthened structures, established a governance model of transparency that is envied in many areas, and we have promoted the role of women,” he points out.

Withdrawal of elite athletics

Another indicator that shows the growth of the federation is the financial amount allocated to each elite athlete with options to achieve good results.

“When we arrived, at a time when the economic crisis affected, the historical maximum was 1.8 million euros in aid to athletes. Now we’re up to 4.1 although the real number is 3.5, because there’s money we didn’t commit to in 2022 because of the pandemic. Being in these direct aid numbers leads to better conditions for the athletes and for them, individually, to decide with their coaches how they invest the money, such as concentration held in South Africa,” he pointed out.

“We have an established pyramid and the higher the level, the greater and more individualized that assistance.“, he affirmed.

The next step to continue growing the federation, after undertaking a deep digital transformation, is a location move. From the capital of Madrid, near the headquarters of the Higher Sports Council, to Las Rozas, a municipality outside the capital.

“It is the responsibility of any manager to develop structures. First, we had to resolve the legal framework and approve new laws, something that was done unanimously. We are a federation with financial solvency and we need to take that reputational step to provide better economic services to national athletics and having a building that represents growth is something important,” he commented.

The popular races, which flood the streets of Spanish towns and cities every weekend, also bring the Spanish federation to fulfill another of its goals, the promotion of athletics as a model of life and healthy and leisure activity.

The number of day licences, with final races still to be held, is estimated at 300,000 for December 31which will mean a growth of 12% compared to 2022, according to data from the RFEA itself.

Representative in international bodies

The RFEA consolidated its presence and representation in the governing bodies and commissions of international federations, ensuring a stronger influence and participation in the international arena during the 2023-2027 period, with the vice president at World Athletics for to Raúl Chapado, and the Association Ibero-American Athletics.

There are also members on three of the four Commissions of World Athletics, and on two Commissions, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, in addition to the General Secretariat and the Executive Committee of Mediterranean Athletics.