As his term approaches its third anniversary, Aridany Romero, Sports Counselor of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, has reviewed his management, highlighting the achievement of set objectives and the increase in the sports budget. Romero, who also served as a councilor in the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, stressed the importance of sports policies in promoting physical activity and health, noting that the municipal sports budget grew from 4 to 18 million euros during his tenure, and the insular budget has now surpassed 60 million euros.
Regarding the hosting of sporting events on the island, such as the Rally Islas Canarias and the Transgrancanaria, Romero believes that Gran Canaria is not being "over-exploited." He assures that awareness and prevention measures are in place to minimize environmental and social impact, and emphasizes that the sports industry generates economy and employment, accounting for approximately three percent of the GDP and employing over 35,000 young people.
The counselor regretted not being able to bring the Vuelta Ciclista a España to the island, although he noted that doors remain open. He also defended the decision not to associate Gran Canaria's name with the Israeli team in the context of "sport washing," despite pressures and deadlines. The visit of Pope Leo XIV was cited as an event of great impact, comparable to the transformation of Barcelona with the Olympic Games.
Concerning the works at the Gran Canaria Stadium for the Football World Cup, Romero expressed optimism, calling it the "most important milestone of this part of the 21st century." He assured that deadlines are being met and that the bidding process, with a 45% weighting for quality, has facilitated the participation of Canarian companies. The cost, exceeding one hundred million euros, is justified by the need to meet FIFA's requirements and the quality of the project, which aims to be one of the best stadiums in Europe.
Regarding the stadium's management after the World Cup, an agreement has been reached with UD Las Palmas for commercial exploitation, involving a 60 million euro contribution from the club. Romero expressed his satisfaction with this agreement, which he considers a "management milestone" for the island government.
Addressing the situation of CB Gran Canaria, Romero acknowledged the relegation as a "hard blow" but denied political responsibility, stating that the club has had the necessary resources and institutional stability. He criticized proposals from some political parties that, in his view, seek to "make a quick profit" by offering the club in exchange for the exploitation of the Gran Canaria Arena. He called on the society of Gran Canaria to "step forward" and take over the club's management, given that the Cabildo contributes 3.8 million out of the 10 million budget.
Finally, he referred to the renovation of the Centro Insular de Deportes (CID), which will become a "kind of Gran Canaria Arena bis." The facilities, requiring an investment of three million euros, will host disciplines such as volleyball, basketball, and futsal, as well as events, and will incorporate principles of energy efficiency and accessibility.
