This Thursday night, the 30th edition of the San Antonio de Padua awards was held for Concordia athletes who stood out during the year 2017.
Mayor Enrique Cresto, Vice Mayor Armando Gay, and Sports Secretary Marcelo Cresto led the ceremony held at the Convention Center, where courage, discipline, commitment, dedication, and effort were awarded.
"Sport is one of the main State policies of this municipal administration," the Mayor stressed, thanking the Organizing Committee of the awards and the Sports Secretariat team, which organized the thirtieth edition of the local sports award. On this occasion, in addition to awarding the athletes, those who held the position of Director of Sports of the Municipality from the restoration of democracy to the current administration, which elevated the area to the rank of Secretariat, were also distinguished.
"I also want to congratulate all the parents who support their children in practicing a discipline. This award is for these young people and also for their families. It is very important that parents can give their children the possibility to practice sports. That is why the responsibility of the State is that when the family cannot, that is where it must be present, so that everyone has the possibility," expressed Enrique Cresto. "That is what we have done in these two years of administration, expanding social sports programs to reach every neighborhood and all the children," the mayor pointed out.
After congratulating the athletes with long careers who received this well-deserved award, Cresto addressed the adolescents and young people, many of them receiving the San Antonio de Padua for the first time, and others repeating. "Behind you are many children who look at you as an example and admire you because today you are going to take home this award. Who also want to have this award. Always remember this very happy moment, and keep in mind that you are marking a path for many young people, a path of commitment, effort, and dedication, which has many joys and forms values that are very important," highlighted the municipal president.
The Vice Mayor and President of the Deliberative Council, Armando Gay, emphasized that "in Concordia there are public policies for sports. It has been demonstrated by everything that sports have grown in these years. And the important thing about public policies is that when an administration passes, the public policies remain and serve to continue moving forward based on what has been done. In these two years of administration, many steps forward have been taken," he said.
Meanwhile, the Sports Secretary, Marcelo Cresto, assured that "we have worked intensely to carry out this edition of the San Antonio Awards, together with sports journalists and institutions, because it is the most important award in the region, where not only capacity, achievements, training, and technique are valued, but also all the values that represent living sports." And he announced that "we have worked hard for social sports so that it has an extra boost and is on par with competitive and professional sports. That is why, together with the Mayor, the decision is to promote the infrastructure improvements that local sports need; that is why in the coming days we will be inaugurating the new changing rooms of the Municipal Gymnasium, which have not had major reforms or modifications since its inauguration in 1975. And in the first months of next year, we will be installing a sports floor."
The 30th edition of the San Antonio Awards was attended by Government Secretary Alfredo Francolini, Undersecretary of Tourism Miguel Guitar, Secretary of Public Works and Services Jorge Mendieta, councilors Carolina Amiano, Amadeo Cresto, and Carola Laner, among other municipal officials, sports leaders, and authorities.