From left to right: Andrés Blanco, CEO of Xcalibur Smart Mapping; Enrique Cerezo, president of Atlético de Madrid; María José Toro, president of Xcalibur Foundation and Antonio Alonso, vice-president and board member of Atlético de Madrid
In a significant event that took place last December at CÍvitas
Metropolitano Stadium, Atlético de Madrid Foundation, and Xcalibur
Foundation formalized an agreement aimed at exploring the viability of
the development of socio-sports projects and activities if the requirements
and needs stipulated in the collaboration agreement established by the football
club Foundation are met.
The main objective of this alliance is to analyze possible
collaboration scenarios that promote sports practices with a socio-educational
approach, aimed at children and young people in vulnerable situations in
various regions and countries where the parent company of Xcalibur Foundation
operates, i.e., Xcalibur Smart Mapping. Possible target countries include
Nigeria, Angola, Tanzania, or Zambia, as well as Kazakhstan, India or
Australia.
The event was attended by the highest representatives from both
institutions. On behalf of Atlético de Madrid, Enrique Cerezo, president
of Atlético de Madrid and Antonio Alonso, vice-president and
board member of Atlético de Madrid and trustee of the red and white Foundation
were present. Representing Xcalibur Foundation attended María José Toro,
president of Xcalibur Foundation and Javier Lezcano, executive
director of the same entity, hereinafter FX. Also, in attendance from Xcalibur
Smart Mapping were Andrés Blanco, CEO of the company and Víctor
González, director of Xcalibur Smart Mapping Spain.
During the ceremony, María José Toro expressed her enthusiasm for the
agreement and the opportunity it presents to explore the implementation of
socio-sports schools and other solidarity initiatives when the right
circumstances arise according to the guidelines implemented by Atlético de
Madrid Foundation in all its collaboration models, developing schools abroad
with a detailed aid programme. She highlighted the relevance of using sport,
specifically football, as a tool to promote education, provide personal
development tools and offer opportunities to children at risk of social
exclusion in disadvantaged areas of these countries. This is how FX takes on
the challenge of ‘identifying the best country to launch the first
socio-sports school under the colors of this club that represents values FX
identifies with such as teamwork, excellence, modesty and the promotion of
healthy habits’, FX’s president said.
On his side, Andrés Blanco stated, ‘at Xcalibur Smart Mapping we are
proud of the collaboration of Xcalibur Foundation with Atlético de Madrid
Foundation due to shared values and beliefs, such as the transformative power
of sport and its ability to inspire and change lives. Through this partnership
we reinforce the commitment of Xcalibur Smart Mapping and Xcalibur Foundation
towards implementing socio-sports projects that not only strengthen our social efforts,
but also improve the living conditions of young people who need it most. We
believe in the power of positive impact and in leaving our footprint on the
communities we support’.
The central purpose of this agreement is to contribute to the
integral development of children and youth through sport, promoting
education, social integration and encouraging healthy habits that favour
coexistence. Xcalibur Foundation is specialised
in international cooperation for development and founded in 2021 in Spain,
seeks to generate a positive impact on society through education and
innovation.
The main objective of Xcalibur Foundation is to improve the emotional, psychosocial,
and physical well-being of its beneficiaries by promoting continued and formal
education, as well as generating professional opportunities. This new alliance
represents an additional horizon to the goals already successfully achieved by
FX in several countries around the world, such as the MTN Naguru Social Sports
Academy in Uganda and the Social Sports Football School in Medellín (Colombia),
which seek to improve the lives of boys and girls through football; the Basket
Talent Academy in DRC or the launch of a line of projects focused on Women’s Well-being
and Employability (ByEM), which has started in Badajoz (Extremadura) in
collaboration with a women’s football team.