Catalonia gains final victory in the 14th Atlantic Watersports Games

Kirola - 2008/07/28

Image 1 / 7

The team of Catalonia has won the 14th Atlantic Watersports Games, organised by the Association of Basque Sports Federations, which have been played in the waters of El Abra Bay and Arrietarra Beach. They have fiercely disputed the top position in the Games, which has been really tight, as the Catalonian team, won the title only after winning one single gold medal more than the Basque, who could not defend their title won during last year’s games. Aquitaine, another favorite team to step onto the podium, has finally been third in the championships.

As regards the final medal qualifications, Catalonia won 11 gold medals, 9 silver ones and 6 bronze, whereas Euskadi got 10 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze. Aquitaine, the third qualified team, won 6 gold, 6 silver y 6 bronzes.

Taking into consideration sports disciplines, Catalonia dominated in sailing, canoeing and underwater activities, whereas Euskadi dominated in surfing and had to resign herself with silver medals in canoeing, underwater activities and sea rowing. Aquitaine was on the other side the winner in sea rowing events.

Once the finals of these 14th Atlantic Watersports Games are already known, sportspeople, coaches and members of the various participating teams have joined together with the representatives of the official institutions to take part in the Closing Ceremony of the Games, which has taken place by the Town Hall Square of Sopelana.

It is there that the medals have been given out to the individual champions, to the teams in every event, given out the trophies to the winners qualifying in the general final classification.

As Rafael Munilla, President of the Committee organising the 14th Atlantic Watersports Games said: the competitive level shown by all teams taking part in the Games has been well over previous years’, as can be seen in the narrow qualifications, and has also thanked for the interest and the full-heartedness of the countries to make these Games something Big.

The Closing Ceremony of the 14th Atlantic Watersports Games had the presence of Gurutz Larrañaga, Vice-Counsellor of Culture of the Basque Government; Imanol Garai, Mayor of Sopelana; Imanol Landa, Mayor of Getxo; and Jean Pierre Thomin, President of the International Committee of the Atlantic Watersports Games.

During this event they also given the flag of the Games to the representatives of the North of Portugal, region that will be organising the next edition of the Atlantic Watersports Games.




Source: www.euskadi2008.com
www.euskalkirola.com
http://www.celticwatergames.com