Crowds of people packed the sports venues and streets of Pego during a vibrant weekend. The XIV Minijocs of the Marina Alta attracted hundreds of sports enthusiasts, including competitors, family members and visitors, marking a milestone as it was the first time they were held outside of Dénia. The event ended successfully, leaving everyone satisfied.
The three sports days took place in total normality, there were no notable incidents. The athletes from the different delegations (Beniarbeig, Benissa, Calp, Dénia, Els Poblets, El Verger, Gata de Gorgos, Mancomunitat de la Rectoria, La Xara, Ondara, Orba, Poble Nou de Benitatxell, Pego, Pedreguer, Teulada, Xàbia, Xaló) always competed with sportsmanship as their flag and the public enjoyed each event celebrating in the more than ten venues enabled.
The Minijocs began with a staging that impressed everyone present. Pego opted for spectacularity at the opening ceremony that took place at the Pujol sports venue. Hundreds of people enjoyed a music show, choreographies directed by Marc Pons, and pyrotechnics, and in which all the athletes shone with the traditional tour of the stadium.
Shortly before, in some of the sports venues, the competition began in different disciplines. The highlight of the Minijocs took place on Saturday, with the bulk of the competition in a dozen different crowded venues. Venues that could be accessed by a free train arranged for the occasion and that was operational all day.
Not even the rain (which made an appearance at noon) could with the desire for sport. The competition took place without incident and the different semifinal draws were completed for the appointment on Sunday. At 9 in the morning of the last sports day, Pego presented a festive atmosphere. Once again, the large public returned to wrap up the athletes who were fighting for medals.
It should be noted that during the three days of competition, a wide variety of leisure activities were also offered in Pego, in front of all of them, those offered by the Infojove department, which was with its doors open to attend to all the young people who they approached
Results of the local delegation
The delegations of Xàbia and Dénia won 28 medals and 27 respectively: 10 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze for the Dianenses; and 8 golds, 9 silvers and 11 bronzes for the Xabians. For its part, the Pegolina delegation was up to the sporting contest and got 21 medals. Swimming was the discipline that gave the Pegolinos the most success with 5 golds, 6 silvers and 2 bronzes.
In athletics, the Pegolina delegation took three metals, two silvers and one bronze. In BTT, a two-wheeled sport, Pego got another medal, a silver; in horsemanship the bronze medal fell; another silver in rhythmic gymnastics. With the women's tennis came the sixth gold medal and the women's volleyball team took the bronze medal.
"We are very happy for the entire Pegoline delegation, which competed at all times with sportsmanship," says the Councilor for Sports, Raül Tamarit. The mayor also highlights the “effort that we have all made in Pego so that these Minijocs turn out well. For this reason, I want to thank all the staff of the City Council, as well as the security forces, health workers, volunteers, fathers, mothers, coaches and, especially, the athletes, for all the work they have done, and all the support they have given us. throughout the weekend. I think that Pego has passed this challenge with flying colors, we have shown that we are prepared for whatever it is”.
The mayor also highlights the inclusion of the boccia discipline in these Minijocs in which close to people with functional diversity participated, "because we understand that sport should not have barriers."
The closing day, held on Sunday, also included a musical show, by Eva Morera and Mayte Vicens and the culmination of the awarding of medals for all the athletes, again in the crowded Pujol sports venue and with an atmosphere festive.
To end these XIV Minijocs of the Marina Alta, the leading role was given to Pilar Ruiz, members of the Regional Board of the Marina Alta and Calp Sports coordinator. Ruiz was in charge of the blackout of the Olympic flame, a small tribute that she received for her long career in the local and regional department, due to her retirement in a few months.
