Por Redaccion 
The Minister of Culture and Sports, Patricia Del Pozo, and the Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, Loles López, have participated in the Sevilla 3000 Sports Center in Polígono Sur in an activity from the Mentor 10 program, organized to commemorate the International Day of the Roma People and the 600th anniversary of the documented presence of the Roma people in the Iberian Peninsula.
The activity was led by two mentors, Cristina Morales, kickboxing world champion, and Juan Bautista Castilla ‘Chamba’, ultraman world champion. Also collaborating were goalkeepers Adrián San Miguel and Noelia Gil from Real Betis and Real Betis Féminas respectively; jugglers and youtubers Javi and Paloma Freestyle; pedagogue and social educator Antonio Chamorro; and environmental activist Quique Bolsitas.
Del Pozo emphasized in her speech that the Mentor 10 program «was born because we saw the need for young Andalusian athletes to have role models to look up to, to serve as a guide in their growth as athletes and individuals, something fundamental thanks to the values that sports provide. It is a program that conveys the culture of effort and work, and that is what we were looking for because we want to train champions in values, champions in life.»
The Minister of Culture and Sports also noted that «our mentors are a reference in Andalusian and Spanish sports, addressing various topics in different sessions like today, such as values education or the importance of healthy habits and active living, and sharing their vital experience of effort and overcoming from school age to elite level, which is an important example for young Andalusians and all citizens.»
On the other hand, the Minister of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, Loles López, congratulated the Roma people and stated that «we are all Andalusians because we carry in our roots, in our culture, in our gastronomy, and in our language the Roma people.»
López pointed out that within the commemorations of the Roma people’s arrival 600 years ago in the Iberian Peninsula, this event is held because «sports is a wonderful tool for inclusion.» In this regard, she emphasized that «sports promotes values such as respect, equality, and effort.» «On a court like this one, we are all equal, and with Mentor 10, boys and girls will see how dreams come true,» she stressed.
There was also more institutional presence, with authorities from both Ministries, as well as the Commissioner of Polígono Sur, Jaime Bretón; and representatives of various entities and clubs that collaborated in the event, Municipal Sports Institute; Real Betis Foundation; Andalusian Volunteer Platform; Vencedores Sports Club; Monsalvete Sports Club; Fútbol Más; and Alalá Foundation.
After the authorities’ speeches, the two mentors, Cristina Morales and Chamba, answered a series of questions, which then led to the practical part of the day, with an initial freestyle show by Javi and Paloma, followed by a relay system where all the boys and girls present participated in different activities.
There was also a healthy snack, and the day ended with a percussion performance by Emilio Carafé, accompanied by students from different schools of the Alalá Foundation and an award ceremony.
Program Objective
The Mentor 10 program, promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, has as its main objectives to instill values in the school population, promote healthy lifestyle habits through sports, and foster the development of Andalusian sports talents with mentors guiding them in the early stages of their sports careers. It also aims to promote healthy and active lifestyles and values such as the culture of effort, respect for diversity, fair play, and consideration for the opponent, judge, or referee.
Mentor 10 is an excellent sports program, in which 34 elite athletes with exemplary careers participate in this seventh edition, such as Cisco García, Berni Rodríguez, Paco Gaviño, Pedro García, Sarah Almagro, Adrián Miramón, Ana Pérez, Natalia Baldizzone, Pablo Martínez, Cayetano García, María Pérez, Carmen Herrera, Celia Jiménez, Alfonso Cabello, Carlos Marchena, José Manuel Quintero, Emilio Martín, Cristina Morales, Juan Bautista Castilla, Carmen Martín, Rubén Alcántara, Adrián Gavira, María Pujol, Lourdes Mohedano, Blanca Manchón, José Manuel Ruiz, Fátima Gálvez, Damián Quintero, María Peláez, Jaime Canalejo, Javier García, Ayoub Ghadfa, Rocío Delgado, and Carolina Marín.