On the second day of the Programme, the leaders visited Real Madrid facilities in Madrid. This team has been decisive in the success of Spanish football and the image that our country has beyond our borders. In the stadium, the indian journalists met the press team of Real Madrid Football Club.
In spite of cricket being the national sport in India, football also has million supporters, mostly in Calcutta, where the two best teams of the country come from. In city, in a southern rural area, Realmadrid Foundation opened its first football school in Asia, the 'Social Sports School IIMC Kheadah', in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mother and Child (IIMC).
Since 2011, 118 boys and 74 girls, aged between 7 and 15, benefit from the training provided by 5 monitors, under the theme: 'They play, we teach'. But the school not only offers sports coaching, but also activities to promote values such as respect, gender equality, integration and healthy habits. According to Iñigo Arenillas, from Realmadrid Foundation: "we believe that sport is a great vehicle for development, peace and social cohesion".
During the meeting, Realmadrid Foundation informed about the future construction of another sports school in Tamil Nadu, southeast of India. The project will be implemented during this year, and wil continue to help children at risk of social exclusión, through sports and healthcare.
Later, the group went aroud the facilities of Santiago Bernabeu stadium, guided by Raul Serrano, from External Relations & Protocol Department. After the visit, some leaders ensured that Spanish football has enhanced the positive image of our country in India and represents a first class exportable item.
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