As some of the regions in the nation make their move onto Phase 1 in the de-escalation process following a two-month-long confinement, the Spanish Sports Council has launched a “Code of Conduct” Spanish athletes must adhere to. A total of 23 National Governing Bodies, including the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation, have joined the initiative.
Calling for exemplarity and transparency in terms of sports management, the document aims to create a collaborative and respectful environment within the nation’s sports community. The code consists of seven “pillars” athletes must comply with:
- Generate confidence among the sector’s institutions.
- Act with integrity.
- Dialogue.
- Solve conflicts and discrepancies in a friendly manner.
- Call for mutual respect.
- Practice transparency and foment ethics.
- Create consciousness around managers’ exemplarity.
The document was initially signed by Spanish Sports Council president Irene Lozano alongside Royal Spanish Soccer Federation (Real Federación Española de Fútbol, RFEF) president Luis Rubiales and LaLiga president Javier Tebas, since soccer is considered Spain’s main channel for revenue in the world of sport.
Avanzamos. Hemos firmado un código de conducta que facilitará el diálogo y la colaboración en el fútbol, y estaríamos encantados de que sea extensible al resto de instituciones y entidades del deporte. Agradezco a @LuisRubiales y a @Tebasjavier su compromiso y buena disposición. pic.twitter.com/jlqO2fB82I
— Irene Lozano (@lozanoirene) May 14, 2020
Earlier this month, the Spanish Sports and Culture Ministry, Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte, announced that a protocol comprised of four phases would be in place allowing athletes to resume their training program – individual or basic training, medium-level training, total pre-competition training and competition.
Phase 1 began May 11 in most of the country’s regions, although not in the provinces of Madrid, Barcelona, Granada or Leon, where the four national High-Performance Centers are located nationwide.
These provinces will remain for the moment in Phase 0, under strict confinement and social distancing measures, with the exception that residents are allowed to exercise or go for a walk during certain times of the day.
Last week, the Royal Spanish Swimming Federation (RFEN) expressed its discomfort with this decision, as they issued a statement asking the government to revert the exclusion of pools from Phase 1.
In an interview with Catalunya Radio, reigning Olympic champion Mireia Belmonte‘s longtime coach and RFEN head coach Fred Vergnoux said that the Games’ postponement has allowed athletes to take a breath, indicating that this time has permitted athletes to give different drylands a try and take care of their mental health.
🏊🏽♀️ Fred Vergnoux, head coach de @RFEN_directo:
"L'ajornament dels Jocs ens ha permès respirar"
"Ens hem reinventat fent treball multidisciplinar en sec i cuidant aspectes mentals"
"Al CAR i als clubs hi ha mesures higièniques i protocols per poder entrenar. Desitgem nedar ja" pic.twitter.com/CURfhWN4sc
— Maria Guixà (@mariaguixa) May 12, 2020
“There are hygienic measures and protocols in place at the [Sant Cugat] High-Performance Center, which would allow athletes to train,” Vergnoux said. “We want to swim already.”
Spain’s Health Ministry is currently studying the possibility of Madrid and Barcelona advancing to what would be called “Phase 0.5,” allowing for the reopening of some establishments, although gymnasiums would not be allowed to reopen.
It still remains unknown if the two major High-Performance Centers located in Madrid and Sant Cugat del Valles (Barcelona) would be allowed to resume.