ExpoDeca 2026 concluded its opening day this Thursday with significant participation, especially from schoolchildren, and an intense program of exhibitions and professional meetings. The fair, held around the Plaza de la Música, aims to bring sports closer to citizens and promote healthy lifestyles.
Promoted by the Canary Islands Government's Ministry of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity and Sports and organized by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the fair welcomed over a hundred educational centers. Students had the opportunity to learn and practice various sports at the Plaza de la Música, the Plaza del Espigón, and Parque de El Rincón.
Activities such as basketball, climbing, walking football with the Al Golpito initiative, mini-tennis, Canarian ball game, zip-lining, and handball technique sessions captured attendees' interest. Inclusive football, cycling, and adapted table tennis were also offered, fostering integration.
Despite light rain in the early hours, thousands of people visited the various fair spaces, with a notable presence of schoolchildren and sports sector professionals.
Concurrently, the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus hosted the first day of the National Sports Management Congress, organized by the Federation of Sports Management Associations of Spain (FAGDE). Minister Poli Suárez and FAGDE president Milagros Díaz inaugurated the event, which covered topics such as the legacy of major events, fitness, artificial intelligence, and sports management in public administrations.
The Vice-Minister of Physical Activity and Sports, Ángel Sabroso, highlighted ExpoDeca's role as a national venue and the work of sports managers as "invisible protagonists".
A delegation from Sports Summit Madrid (SSM) also participated in a debate on "Investment and financing of sports," exploring economic growth opportunities in the sports industry.
The afternoon focused on promoting values in sports with the initiative "Promotion of values in sport," driven by the College of Psychology of Las Palmas and led by the Director General of Physical Activity and Sports, María Rojas, to prevent violence in grassroots sports. Aarón Sosa, from the Official College of Psychology of Las Palmas, provided guidance on fostering sportsmanship.
Double marathon world champion Abel Antón presented the "Pasos por la Vida" (Steps for Life) project, a socio-sports intervention program focused on active aging and intergenerational coexistence.
The fight against doping was also addressed by the Canary Islands Anti-Doping Commission, whose president, Antonio Ramos Gordillo, emphasized the need for prevention and science over misinformation, reporting six adverse analytical findings detected in the Canary Islands in 2026.
The day also included a bodyboarding activity at Las Canteras beach with prominent figures like Armide Soliveres, and the presentation of the documentary "Hijos de la Arena" (Sons of the Sand), honoring Canarian wrestling and its cultural link with Senegal's laamb, featuring wrestlers such as Eusebio Ledesma and Echedey Zamora.
ExpoDeca 2026 will continue until Sunday, November 15th, with free admission and a program for all audiences. It is sponsored by Centro Comercial Las Arenas, Fundación DISA, Provital, Fred. Olsen, Binter, Tirma, Firgas, Ahembo, Ybarra, Citroën, and Gofio La Piña, with collaboration from Proexca and the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council.
