More than 150 participants in the first Family Day of the European “Playing for refuge” project

On the 30th April this year, around 160 people took part in the first Family Day of the European “Playing for refuge” project, coordinated by the Navarre Government Directorate General for Migration Policies. This project aims to promote the social inclusion and integration of refugees into the community in Navarre through sport, specifically through baseball and softball. The Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), the Red Cross and the Baseball and Softball Federation of Navarre are all involved in this 2-year project, which also enjoys the collaboration of the Navarre Sports Institute and the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation.

This first Family Day, which was held at the facilities of the Ciudad Deportiva Amaya sports club in Pamplona, was attended by the director general for Migration Policies, Ms. Patricia Ruiz de Irizar; the managing director of the Navarre Sports Institute, Mr. Miguel Pozueta; the president of the Baseball and Softball Federation of Navarre, Mr. Pablo Carpio; the president of the Spanish Baseball and Softball Federation, Mr. Jesús Lisarri; and Ms. Idoia Oneca, head of CEAR Navarre.

Following words of welcome and the presentation of the Family Day event, the Los Cardinales team was officially presented. This recently-created team is primarily made up of players with refugee status in our country and who form part of the CEAR and Red Cross associations. The team captain, Javier Alejandro Azuaje, performed the honorary first pitch which preceded the División de Honor (Spanish first division) doubleheader between the Toros de Pamplona and Antorcha de Valencia teams.

What is more, all participants in the event were offered the opportunity to make use of a batting machine installed at the club by the Navarre Federation and, at the end of the first game of the División de Honor, everyone enjoyed a picnic and a raffle was held for 10 packs of sports gear and promotional material.