For the first time since the Marina Alta Minijocs began, back in 1995, the great competition will change its headquarters and will move from Dénia, who had been the host until now, to Pego. Quite a challenge for the beginner town that hopes to live up to the important event that will take place on May 19, 20 and 21.
The presentation of the great sports event took place yesterday, in the plenary hall of the Pegolí City Council, with the participation of mayors, sports councilors and sports technicians from the towns that will participate. There will be a total of 17 municipalities that will be represented in this fourteenth edition.
Athletes from Beniarbeig, Benissa, Calp, Dénia, Els Poblets, El Verger, Gata de Gorgos, Mancomunitat de la Rectoria, La Xara, Ondara, Orba, Poble Nou de Benitatxell, Pedreguer, Teulada, Xàbia, Xaló and Pego will make up the teams in which between 1.200 and 1.300 girls and boys from the region will meet.
As for the modalities that will be practiced, there will also be 17: athletics, basketball, futsal, soccer, rhythmic gymnastics, handball, tennis, Valencian pilota, chess, swimming, volleyball, paddle tennis, mountain biking, karate, sailing, horse riding and boccia.
"This is the largest regional sports link and we want the Olympic values to be present in these Minijocs: excellence, friendship and respect", announced the mayor of Pego, Enrique Moll. Both Moll and the Pego Sports councilor, Raúl Tamarit, agreed on the considerable deployment of resources necessary to host "one of the biggest sporting events in the entire Valencian Community." For this reason, both wanted to thank the work carried out by "the Taula Esportiva and the Xarxa Esportiva de la Marina Alta, not only for the organization of the MiniJocs, but also for the promotion of sport and healthy habits in our region".
Programming of the Minijocs
During the presentation, Tamarit described part of the programming for the three days. "Despite the fact that some of the sports disciplines will begin on Friday, May 19 at 15:30 p.m., it will not be until 20:00 p.m. when the starting shot for the opening ceremony will be given, which will take place at the Pujol athletics track.
In addition to the traditional entrance of the athletes, “we are preparing a show that we cannot reveal, but it will surely excite everyone. This show will be performed by Marc Pons, who has directed the Festival d'Arts Escèniques in Pego. We hope that the stands, which can accommodate up to 1.000 spectators, are full," the councilor confessed.
On Saturday, May 20, the bulk of the Mini Jocs will take place. The different competitions will take place in the different sports venues in the municipality: the Pujol athletics track, the Cervantes soccer field, the Trilladora sports venues, the Ausiàs March covered pavilion tennis club, as well as Santa Teresa and Pere Sala streets. , where the Valencian pilota competitions will take place. As for the BBT competitions, they will take place on the track of the Cycling Club, and sailing, in the Marjal natural park.
Finally, on Sunday, May 21, the closing ceremony will take place with the awarding of medals to the finalists of each competition. "We will have a special performance for this event, organized by Eva and Maite, two specialist instructors in dance, zumba and ballet", the councilor confirmed.
Organization and security
One of the most worrying aspects of the transfer of the stage from Dénia to Pego de los Minijocs is the distribution of the sports venues. The new host town is characterized by hosting them separately. To do this, the Pegolí town hall has drawn up a safety plan so that minor participants can move safely from one facility to another throughout the entire weekend of the competition.
A secure cordon will be established, directed by the Pego Local Police, which will help athletes in their travels. In addition, this, the councilor has assured, "will not affect vehicle traffic." On the other hand, the municipality will also have a tourist train that will visit the different sports facilities.
