On Tuesday 28 November, in the multisport pavilion on the Blasco Ibáñez Campus, the 2023 UV Sports Gala was held to recognise the achievements of the different university teams and present the UV athletes of the 2023/24 season.
Athletes from different sporting disciplines, both individuals and collectives, and their trainers, as well as authorities in the world of sports attended the UV Sports Gala. Following the entrance and photo booth, the gala opened with a statement by journalists María Fuster and Nuria Medina on a stage lined with the trophies won by UV athletes in different sporting competitions throughout the last year.
The Principal of the Universitat de València, Mavi Mestre, spoke at the beginning of the gala and highlighted the increased rate of female participation, “We have reached a number of effective equality. And that, for women who have long struggled for equality and to reclaim our place, is a great source of pride.” The UV Principal also thanked the technical teams of the Sport Service for their work and congratulated the winning athletes, “Thanks to all of you, the Universitat de València is the number one public university in Spain in terms of sports.”
Director of the UV Sports Service Ana María Gómez Tafalla emphasised the benefits of integrating athletics into academic life by stating that it “improves the academic success rate, the prevention of chronic illnesses, stress and anxiety relief, the development of social skills and the promotion of healthy habits.” She expressed her contentment with the wide range of sporting disciplines included in the UV’s sports programme, “The Sports Service offers a great variety of options for students to chose from, in order for them to find a an option that best fits their preferences, needs and goals.”
During the event, this season’s teams of university athletes were presented along with their trainers and coaches, and the teams who made the podium during the CEU (Spanish University championships) and international championships were also recognised.
The Universitat de València continues to be the leading public university in athletic participation on the regional, national and international level. In fact, more than 700 UV athletes participated in the Regional University Championships (CADU), 309 participated in the CEUs, and 96 athletes from our university were ranked at the European level. This large-scale participation was accompanied by the magnificent achievement of 177 regional medals, 54 national medals and 18 European medals.
Also participating in the Gala were different UV authorities: Mª Angeles Vidal, Manager of the Municipal Sports Foundation of Valencia; Hermenegildo Puchades, Head of the Sports Promotion Service of the DGD; Ferran Calabuig, Dean of the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences; Pilar Serra, Vice-Principal for Sustainability, Cooperation and Healthy Living; Salvador Moll Cebolla, Dean of the Faculty of Mathematical Sciences; Albert Moncusí Ferré, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences; Antoni Merelles Tormo, Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Podiatry; Hortensia Rico, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy; Adela Mauri, Dean of the Faculty of Chemistry and Antonio Ferrer, Dean of the Faculty of Psychology.
The event, which was also livestreamed, ended with an honorary wine toast.
