The Minister of Culture and Sport, Patricia del Pozo, presided over the event that formalized the renaming of the track, now dedicated to the outstanding athlete from Granada. María Pérez, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and is a four-time world champion in race walking, was also present at the ceremony.
“"We thus pay tribute to an exceptional athlete who has forged a career through effort, perseverance, and commitment."
Del Pozo emphasized that María Pérez embodies the noblest values of sport, serving as an example of personal improvement, discipline, and the ability to transform talent into excellence. The minister added that Pérez's name on the track will be a source of inspiration for all who use it daily with aspirations and dreams.
The Youth Stadium of Granada is a fundamental meeting point for grassroots sports, hosting local and provincial events, and being accessible to all citizens. The minister highlighted that the track, by bearing María Pérez's name, acquires an even greater symbolic dimension, connecting the modern facility with the living example of an elite athlete who has carried the name of Granada, Andalusia, and Spain to the pinnacle of international sport.
During the visit, Patricia del Pozo was accompanied by the mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo; the Minister of Development, Territorial Planning and Housing, Rocío Díaz; the Secretary General for Sport, Isabel Sánchez; the Director General of Sports Events and Facilities, Gorka Lerchundi, and the territorial delegate for Culture and Sport in Granada, David Rodríguez, among other authorities.
The Youth Stadium will also host the International Andalusia Challenger 2026 Meeting on June 3, an event included in the World Calendar featuring twelve Challenger events with international participation requirements, designed to help athletes achieve minimum marks for competitions such as the European Championships.
