Alexia Putellas, Josep Carreras, Antonio López, Montserrat Caballé, Leo Messi, Antonio Banderas, Carlos Sainz, Rosalía, Marc Márquez, Jordi Alumà, Jaume Plensa, Andrés Iniesta, Joaquín Maria Puyal, Joan Roca, Carles Puyol, Joan Manuel Serrat, Rafa Nadal, El Tricicle, Kilian Jornet… The compilation video of all the awards granted by the Fundació Sport Cultura over these years is enough to justify its existence, although, in addition to these awards (which is what they are best known for), the foundation also participates in various social tasks such as the preparation of the Study of Sports Values, the organization of various sports tournaments, or the celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship conferences to support entities and clubs.
Yes, it is true that there is a lot of crème de la crème, yes, it is true that alongside historical social entities, some big business fish coexist in their organs, but it is also true that someone must make us know each other and see each other's faces. And yes, it was Samaranch who founded the Sport Cultura Awards in 2004, but I don't know if anyone else could have set up an entity that sought to unify the voice and dialogue between sport, culture, and institutions: the fact is that he did it. In fact, we don't all have to think alike, but it is necessary that, in Barcelona, we all know each other. In fact, it's inevitable, sooner or later. But, apart from knowing each other, once a year we take a look at our protagonists in these two areas and we can conclude with a certain swagger that we are quite awesome. "Són molts anys plens d'afanys" (They are many years full of endeavors) and, this year, too.
RBA Building, May 23, a good standing aperitif and a good lunch afterward. The conversations I link are about music (Palau, Liceu, Auditori have come as one man), about patronage (the new law, the philanthropic entities and foundations involved, what we still need to achieve), the elections (the candidates have not come, although they were invited: they will not have considered it urgent enough in their frantic race) and more briefly the publishing business. Since I don't know how to talk about sports, at most I entertain myself for a while with the head of sports of RAC1, the recovered Joan Lluís Garcia, and I venture clues about Messi's return or about the premature longing for the Camp Vell before it is demolished.
This year we celebrate Grant Dalton, in the sports category, and Carla Simon, in the culture category at the Sport Cultura Awards. The former is a highly distinguished New Zealand sailor who has sailed around the world several times, protagonist of outstanding world records. He receives the award from the president of the Real Club Náutico, Jordi Puig, and in his speech, apart from obviously referring to the upcoming America's Cup, he talks about recreating the Olympic spirit of the city. In contrast, Carla Simon receives the award from the president of the TNC Board of Directors, Neus Aranda (a longing for the Daurella era, by the way). It's not exactly that she receives the award, because our brand new cinematic ambassador could not attend the ceremony and, apart from claiming in a video the presence of women in cinema, she did not forget to mention the importance that internationally the existence of our language and our "region" is known. More than an ambassador, then, we could at most speak of an honorary consul. A sigh. Not to mention what a pity.
The lifetime achievement award goes to the great composer and conductor Antoni Ros Marbà, who receives the award from the president of the Palau de la Música, Joaquim Uriach, and who offers us the most brilliant speech of the meal: apart from announcing an upcoming work about Walter Benjamin to premiere at the Liceu, he paraphrases both Einstein (it seems that the phrase about not stopping pedaling to prevent the bicycle from falling is his) and Ravel: "A good couplet is better than a bad symphony." And, apparently, he is increasingly attracted to Beethoven than to his hitherto favorite Mozart. Everyone sooner or later comes to their senses and gets a little tired of the annoying child who (they say) does everything well.
It is the third time in the history of the Sport Cultura Awards (by the way, well presented by radio announcer Aleix Parisé) that a special mention has been made: the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in 2018, Josep Lluís Vilaseca in 2020, and this year the former footballer and former coach Juan Carlos Unzué, who carries with him the entire cause in favor of ALS patients. And who can no longer, apparently, hold a microphone. He states that the award he would like to receive is that ALS patients would not, too often, want to die so as not to be a nuisance to their loved ones. He talks about prioritizing people and how, in this world that he sees increasingly inaccessible for his body, this priority loses ground too clearly. Second sigh. Not to mention how scary.
Another year, but we have seen each other's faces. Another year, but Barcelona's civil society (the elites and those who are not so elite) have shared a space for a while and have done the beautiful thing every spring. Another year, but only in a small city like Barcelona, is it possible for such different people to understand each other in something. Sport and culture may just be a pretext. Perhaps so, agreed. But well thought out: so what?