Adeje Town Hall held the eleventh annual Sports Gala last Friday, 20 February, at the Auditorio de Adeje. The event publicly recognised athletes, projects and organisations that stood out during the season for their results, commitment and contribution to the development of sport in the municipality.
The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, stressed that “for us, sport is a fundamental pillar of all municipal policies. Sport is a vehicle for health, education and training, and also for instilling positive values in our society, regardless of age or circumstances. It is also a space for coming together and for promoting social harmony. In addition, a gala like tonight’s highlights the work of certain athletes, whether professional or not, who can in any case be role models for many young people. They are positive examples that speak of a culture of effort. For this reason, I want to congratulate everyone who practises sport in Adeje, thank them for helping us to make a better municipality, and also highlight the work of the clubs in promoting all sporting activity.”
For his part, Adolfo Alonso Ferrera, Adeje sports councillor, noted that the gala once again highlighted the work carried out by Adeje Town Hall’s Department of Sports. He was accompanied by the department’s professional team, whom he thanked for their commitment, saying “they are the ones who make the department work, with this team everything is easier.” He also recalled that since last year the service has held a quality and sporting excellence seal, a recognition which, he explained, “is the result of the daily work of all the staff who serve Adeje.” In this regard, he pointed out that the department has around one hundred staff, more than fifteen sporting disciplines and over two thousand users. The sports programme is further strengthened by the work of more than seventy clubs from different disciplines, reflecting the diversity of sport in the municipality. Regarding the aim of the event, Alonso Ferrera underlined that the gala is held “to bring together sport in Adeje and highlight its highest expression, as well as the sporting potential of the municipality.”
In the main categories, Alexandra Rinder was named Female Athlete of the Year after once again being crowned world bodyboard champion in 2025. This is the third time Rinder has received the highest distinction in sport in Adeje, having previously won it in 2017 and 2019 for her outstanding performance in this discipline. Meanwhile, Cosme García Negrín received the Male Athlete of the Year award for his outstanding record in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with national and international titles during the current season.
As is customary, the gala presented numerous awards and recognitions, including the Youngest Athlete Award, which went to Leandro Omar García Sánchez, a participant in the programme “Jugando para el Deporte” (Playing for Sport). This initiative provides children in the municipality with their first contact with physical activity and has more than 2,000 registered participants.
The Veteran Athlete Award was presented to Rafael Dolado García, described by the jury as an example of perseverance and vitality at the age of 80. The award was presented by Margarita Herrera, who held this distinction for many years and remains active, symbolising generational continuity within the municipal sports programme.
The Fair Play Award was given to Aday Bethencourt Cruz for his supportive attitude and altruistic involvement with Baby Basket groups, collaborating weekly in training sessions for children aged four and five, and becoming a role model for young people.
In the Perseverance category, the award went to Paco Suárez, a sports commentator over decades and founder of Radio Atalaya, recognised for his loyalty in covering municipal events such as the Torneo Juvenil de Fútbol Villa de Adeje, even during periods of limited resources.
The Sporting Achievement Award was presented to Juan Antonio Carballo Díaz, a seven-time Spanish champion in freediving underwater photography, whose competitive and educational work has contributed to greater awareness and protection of the marine environment in the Canary Islands. The Event of the Year award went to the International Softball Cup, promoted by Leonard Tito Leal Sánchez. The most recent competition, held in October 2025, brought together 32 teams from across the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, Europe and the Americas, consolidating Adeje as a reference venue for this discipline.
The Overcoming Adversity Award was presented to Navin Khatwani, who, after overcoming an oncological illness, has become runner-up in the Canary Islands trail championships over the 21-kilometre distance, making sport his life project. The Resilience Award was granted posthumously to Ana Isabel Aparicio Pavo, an example of strength throughout four years of illness and an active participant in pilates classes in Adeje. The award was collected by her niece, Alba Martín, and her daughter, Irene Pérez, in an emotional tribute.
The Lifetime Sporting Achievement Award recognised Isaac Araya Corrales for his extensive career in Muay Thai, with regional, national, European and world titles, as well as a solid international profile.
During the gala, the renewal of the Sports Quality Seal for 2026 was also highlighted. This distinction was awarded to Adeje Town Hall by the Instituto para la Calidad Deportiva Española. The Hotel Meliá Jardines del Teide and the Rallye Villa de Adeje were also accredited, joining the Dinamita Domínguez Boxing Club, which already held this distinction.
In the honorary category, the Town Hall recognised the career of the captain of CD Tenerife, Aitor Sanz Martín, for his extensive professional career and his commitment as a role model on and off the pitch. The honour was shared with Patricia Gavira Collado, captain of Costa Adeje Tenerife, a pioneer of women’s football and a key figure in the professional consolidation of the sport.
The Adeje Sports Gala reaffirms the Town Hall’s commitment to promoting physical activity and to publicly recognising those who, through their effort and dedication, promote the name of the municipality at local, island, regional, national and international level.
