Madrid, Spain – March 2025 – The Provincial House of Atocha hosted the 5th National Day of Salesian Educational Sports on Saturday, March 22. The event was organized by the sports commissions of the Spain-St. James the Elder Province (SSM) and the Spain-Mary Help of Christians Province (SMX), bringing together 75 participants from across Spain. Most attendees were coordinators of Salesian sports clubs and coaches, along with representatives from Salesian houses interested in developing sports programs aligned with Salesian identity.

The day began with a keynote speech by Fr. José Miguel Núñez, SDB, who emphasized the importance of the playground in Salesian education. He stressed that sports ministry should be an integral part of the Salesian educational and pastoral project, ensuring that sports in Salesian settings contribute to holistic youth formation.

Following this, Gema Sáez, a professor of Sports Science at Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid, delivered a talk on “Sports Ministry in Action”. The event continued with a dynamic roundtable discussion featuring experts in Salesian sports, followed by a session with Iñaki Alonso, an international expert on child protection, who spoke about creating safe environments for children in sports.

At the conclusion of the event, Diego Pérez and Mario Fernández, coordinators of Salesian Educational Sports in the SMX and SSM Provinces, respectively, thanked the participants and speakers, highlighting the importance of fostering Salesian values through sports.