Details

The Bizkaia Provincial Council held the Bizkaia Kirolak Sariak 2026 Awards ceremony this afternoon at the Bizkaia Frontoia, in a ceremony dedicated to recognising the work of individuals, organisations and projects linked to grassroots sport in the region. The ceremony was attended by the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, and the Deputy of Basque Language, Culture and Sports, Leixuri Arrizabalaga.

In this edition, 49 nominations were received. These awards recognise sporting achievements over the past year by athletes from the region, coaching and technical staff, organisations and events that have contributed to the development of grassroots sport in Bizkaia.

This year’s gala sought to highlight the commitment to promoting sport at all stages of life, which is one of the cornerstones of the Kirolur 2026 campaign, in a year in which Bizkaia was named a European Region of Sport. In this context, a specific Bizkaia Kirolur award has also been created, which was awarded to the Gorbeia Zuzien race.

The event also highlighted the work of those involved in refereeing. In doing so, the Bizkaia Provincial Council aims to reinforce the Errespetua campaign, launched this season across school sport to raise awareness among spectators and promote respect for coaches and athletes. A delegation of referees read out a manifesto calling for sportsmanship also outside the field of play.

In her opening address at the event, the General Deputy backed the Errespetua campaign promoted by the Provincial Council to foster respect in the sporting sphere. She thanked and highlighted the work of referees and stressed that “sport is, above all, a place for people to come together. A place where anyone can feel included, where relationships are built and where much more than just physical activity is shared”.

The gala, hosted by sports journalists Pedro Mari Goikoetxea and Paloma del Río, once again served to highlight the individuals and organisations that have excelled in promoting physical activity and grassroots sport in Bizkaia.

The General Deputy, Elixabete Etxanobe, presented the honorary Bizkaia Kirolak Sariak 2026 award to Pedro Galarza, in recognition of his long career and his contribution to sport in Bizkaia as a pioneer in organising trail running events in the region.

Ten awards were presented in different categories:

• Izar Gaztea Saria, for athletes affiliated through a Bizkaia club who were born before 2010 and compete in categories below the senior category, was awarded to Janire Marina Abraldes (handball).
• Argizagi Saria, for athletes registered with a Bizkaia club who compete in the senior category, was awarded to Paula Markina García (hockey).
• Iparrizar Saria, for athletes registered with a Bizkaia club who compete in categories beyond the senior category, was awarded to Juan Carlos Fontalba Orihuela.
• Ostadarra Saria, an award given to federated teams from clubs in Bizkaia, was awarded to CB Kukullaga.

In the section recognising sporting careers, the recipients of the awards were as follows:

• Leialtasun Saria, aimed at people from Bizkaia who currently hold or have held management positions in sports organisations, was awarded to Arantza Lazurtegi Mateos.
• Zuzentasun Saria, aimed at referees from Bizkaia with a licence issued through a federation in Bizkaia, was awarded to José María Markaida Eguskiza.
• Lidergotasun Saria, for coaches from Bizkaia with a licence issued through a federation in Bizkaia, was awarded to Joseba Rodríguez García.
• Kidetasun Saria, intended for sports organisations in Bizkaia that operate in the field of sport in Bizkaia, was awarded to Club de Bolos Santa Ana.
• Bizkaia Kirolur Saria, this year’s special award, created as part of the European Region of Sport initiative, was awarded to Gorbeia Zuzien.

Photo and full article at www.bizkaia.eus