The president of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), Alejandro Blanco, assured this Friday that he will make “one last attempt” to try to reach an agreement and that the joint candidacy between Catalonia and Aragon for the 2030 Winter Olympics to move forward, and advised “leaving” politics on the sidelines.
He stated this in an interview on Catalunya Ràdio collected by Europa Pressafter the president of Aragón, Javier Lambán, asked on Thursday for the resignation of the president of the COE.
“Either we leave politics and focus on there being a sports project, or we will not run the candidacy, and in that case, the harmed party will not be a person, it will be the territory,” Blanco has warned, who believes that a political storm has been unleashed – in his words – that has nothing to do with the candidacy.
After ensuring that he cannot find an explanation for Lambán’s statements, He explained that six technical meetings were held, and that the president of Aragón already knew the distribution of the tests from the first meeting.
Although he has avoided accusing Lambán of lying, has assured that the distribution of the tests comes from these technical meetings and that theThe representatives of Aragon endorsed the proposal: “Everything is recorded,” they warned.
“There is what each one has said and the final vote. It is impossible to understand what is happening. Going on to talk about political commissioners, constitutionalism and nationalists, It is outside what a sports candidacy is,” added Blanco, who does not see it advisable to release these recordings.
Possible sole candidacy of Catalonia
Despite everything, and after the recent visit of the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, he has stressed that he will make “one last attempt” to reach an agreementmaking it clear that the joint candidacy remains his first option, and that he plans to visit Catalonia.
In the event that it does not go ahead, they will continue to be in contact with the IOC to maintain the will to try to organize the Winter Olympic Games in 2030.thus leaving open the possibility of opening up to a solo candidacy led by Catalonia.
“You cannot miss the opportunity to hold the Olympic Games in Spain,” stressed Blanco, after pointing out that it has the support of the Government and that the president of the IOC knows the situation.
Regarding whether a solo candidacy from Catalonia could add countries like France or Italy to host some tests, Blanco has asked to focus on Spain and analyze what can be done here: “First we have to solve our issue. See what candidacy we present.”