The players of the National Team, awarded the Medalla de Oro al Mérito Deportivo (Gold Medal for Sporting Merit)
The Women's National Football Team will receive the Oro al Mérito Deportivo (Gold Medal for Sporting Merit) after winning the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. This was announced by the acting Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, during the official reception at the Moncloa Palace for the 23 players and the coaching staff who achieved the highest international trophy in women's football.
The Oro al Mérito Deportivo (Gold Medal for Sporting Merit) is awarded by the Higher Sports Council to those who have a notably distinguished career in sports practice, in promoting and teaching of physical education, or eminent services in the research, promotion, organisation and development of physical culture and sport. The ratification of this decision will take place in the Council of Ministers this same Tuesday.
The reception by Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace wa the first institutional event of the morning, following an intense day, yesterday, where a journey of nearly a whole day came to a close with a golden touch at Explanada Puente del Rey in Madrid Río. There, more than 20,000 people celebrated the victory in the women's World Cup and shared it with dedicated players who gave their all.
The players and the rest of the Spanish delegation were greeted at the palace doors, receiving from the captain, Ivana Andrés, the world champions' trophy won by the team this past August 20th in the Australian town of Sydney.
Ivana Andrés thanked the Spanish Prime Minister for the gesture, highlighting that "the players are aware of his commitment to women and sports, just as we appreciate all the support and effort that the RFEF has given us over the years in their support for women's football."
Sánchez emphasised "the pride, admiration, and eternal gratitude of the entire Spanish society" towards the team: "if in 2010 we were world champions, now we proudly say that we are all world champions. Regardless of politics, administrations must be committed to achieving real and effective equality. The 21st century is the century of women," he concluded.
