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Javier Lambán, president of Aragón, on the left together with Alejandro Blanco, president of the Spanish Olympic Committee. / ANDREEA VORNICU
The bid for the 2030 Winter Games is still very much alive. The president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alexander White, met once more this Thursday with the Aragonese president, Javier Lambán, to resume contacts with the failed meeting between the two presidents of Aragon and Catalonia in Balaguer last January as a backdrop. The head of the autonomous Executive explained the meeting and the development of the last days with a very optimistic mood, in addition to accepting that the name with which the project is finally presented is Barcelona–Zaragoza-Pyrenees.
“Aragón’s interest remains intact. “We continue with the intention of avoiding obstacles, past ones and those that may come in the future. There is also two nuances to take into account that have happened in the last few days. First, what happened in the Senate the day before yesterday, where President Sánchez categorically defended that the Government is committed to an Olympic Games in the Pyrenees, expressly speaking of Barcelona and Zaragoza”.
In addition, Lambán has focused on the work of Salvador Illa, leader of the Catalan Socialist Party, “who has proposed a series of agreements to the president of the Generalitat expressly speaking of Barcelona, Zaragoza and the Pyrenees”, an agreement that, in the event of , would be of great importance, as the name of these projects always is. “One of the stumbling blocks is being overcome”, admitted the Aragonese president, who recalled that this candidacy obtained last week in plenary session of the Cortes the express support of 58 of the 67 deputieswith only 4 votes once morest (3 from CHA and 1 from Izquierda Unida).
Blanco has assured that it has occurred a “great progress” in recent weeks by the technical teams of the parties, to the point that Barcelona-Zaragoza-Pyrenees is emerging as the official name of the joint bid, a name that does not bother Lambán. “With that name, in principle I wouldn’t have any kind of discomfort. What happens is that it’s not just regarding agreeing on the name, but also a declaration of intent that things are going in the right direction.”
However, the president of Aragon has assured that he still does not have a scheduled date to meet with his counterpart from the neighboring community. The next scheduled appointment is February 28, day on which the technical commission is convened. For May, without specifying exactly, the visit of members of the IOC is planned, which will be the one that will help decide how the candidacy continues to be outlined.
“The atmosphere in the technical commission is extraordinary”, said Alejandro Blanco”, happy following redirecting the situation, but aware that obstacles will once once more appear along the way. “We have made a lot of progress in recent weeks and we know that there will be statements that will not likealthough nothing happens either if we know how to redirect them as before”.
During this time, “technical work” has continued between representatives from Aragon, Catalonia and the Spanish Olympic Committee, following visits were made last January to different enclaves in the autonomous community and to the available infrastructures.
The president of the COE has recalled that when the candidacy is “more developed”, at the end of March or beginning of April, they will create the two “missing” commissionsin which the three presidents will participate, “unless the three decide to meet before, which will be wonderful”, he pointed out.
In this regard, Lambán has commented that he is always “delighted” to meet with his counterparts and that a meeting with Pere Aragonès will always be considered “positive” to deal with matters beyond the Olympic Games.
However, he clarified that in order for it to take place “it is necessary that you have a guarantee that it will be a success and it’s not going to be a step backwards”. “Balaguer’s mightn’t be, I’ve already explained why. Meetings should be held in the future, but before they are announced and take place, they must be specified very well so that there are no unexpected surprises.”