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Early steps for the first Spanish DSA
Feature - 22 March 2010
The Atlético de Madrid Foundation has been the voice for several minorities, both inside and outside the club. Specifically, disabled people who have been a main focus in the activities organised by the Foundation. So it is within this frame that the first association for disabled fans in Spain started gaining form.
On the 15th of March the first informative meeting took place for the new group, at the Sport Arena restaurant. All disabled fans from the club were invited. At this moment, there are around 30 disabled fans who would be part of the new association, for which the Foundation already has the support from the Consejería de Familia y Asuntos Sociales de la Comunidad de Madrid, FAMMA - Federación de Asociaciones de personas con discapacidad física y orgánica de la Comunidad and AESLEME - Asociación para el Estudio de la Lesión Medular Espinal. Beyond these local organisations, CAFE, who is supported by UEFA, has been accompanying the development of this organisation and publishing news in the website.
In this first meeting, the Foundation was represented by Pedro López (Director of Development) and from Atlético de Madrid attended Fernando Fariza (Director for Social Responsability) and Ricardo Casáñez (Responsible for the Peñas). Also present were María Inés Marín (Vice Director of Programme Resources for Disabled People at the Consejería de Familia y Asuntos Sociales), Ángel San Greogorio (Consultant for the Consejera de Familia y Asuntos Sociales), Javier Font (President of FAMMA), Mar Cogollos (President of AESLEME) and Enrique de Álzaga (Director of Voracine, that will be in charge of marketing and audiovisual production).
Up until now there was no organisation related to disabled supporters in Spain, either for football or any other sport and so one of the objectives of this new venture is to be a reference for other clubs to follow, promoting inclusivity and creating an opportunity for all disabled supporters to feel part of the day to day life of their club.
To achieve this there are still many steps to follow. After this meeting, the association will be sending a form by email to all interested parties and after all information has been collected, another meeting will be organised to start creating an association with the objectives and interests of everyone involved. And if all goes according to plan, we foresee that by mid April the Atlético de Madrid DSA will be a reality.
CAFE is delighted to have helped Atlético de Madrid to establish the first Disabled Supporters Association in Spain and we hope this initiative sets an example to other football clubs and that “Atlético Sin Barreras” will be the first of many more pan disability supporters associations throughout Europe.
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