The City Council dedicates this Saturday a sports area to Ignacio Echeverría, the skateboarding hero

The Consistory approved in plenary to name a public space in the city to remember this young man killed in London in 2017, while trying to defend with his skateboard to people who were attacked by jihadist terrorists

The Estepona City Council informs that this Saturday, May 23, a sports area in Cancelada will be dedicated to the figure of Ignacio Echeverría, better known as the ‘skateboard hero’. The young Spaniard died in a terrorist attack in London in 2017 while trying to defend with his skateboard people who were being attacked by jihadist attackers.

The Consistory considers that the figure of Ignacio Echeverría deserves to be remembered in a public space in the city because he was “an example of courage, commitment and compassion” when he decided to defend and stand on the side of people who were being victims of terrorist violence and unreason. Echeverría’s actions have been recognized by numerous public institutions, by Pope Francis and he was even awarded the George Medal by Queen Elizabeth II for his act of bravery.

The enclave chosen to honor the young lawyer is the sports area located in the Avenida de Las Palmeras de Cancelada, as explained by the deputy mayor of the Extraradio area, Begoña Ortiz. On Saturday, from 09.30 hours in the morning, several activities will be held in this space, which will be inaugurated at 13.30 hours.

This facility, which already had a skate park and green areas, has been expanded and improved with new sports facilities: a calisthenics park, two petanque courts and a tennis table.

The new calisthenics facility is designed for users of all levels, from beginners to advanced athletes. The complex has a push-up bar, freestyle pull-up bar, parallel bars, Swedish wall, monkey bar, incline monkey bar and abdominal bench.

The equipment has been manufactured with high quality materials to guarantee resistance and durability outdoors.

The vertical posts are made of galvanized steel, prepared to prevent rust, while the different elements are made of stainless steel and the abdominal bench is made of anodized aluminum.

In addition, the parallel bars and freestyle bar have a hot-dip galvanized finish, offering a better grip for more advanced users.

In addition, a tennis table with a 55-millimeter board has been installed to facilitate the practice of this sport, which is beneficial for people of all ages. It is a sport recommended for people of all ages because it is low impact, tones muscles without damaging joints and drastically improves hand-eye coordination, reflexes and mental agility.

The model installed has anti-vandalism features, is blue in color and has a thermoplasticized structure, legs and net.

The space dedicated to Ignacio Echeverría is completed with the installation of two 15×5 meter petanque courts.

In addition to these sports courts, the equipment has been improved with the new sidewalk on the side of Las Palmeras Avenue and with the painting of roads and street furniture. In this sense, 4 benches, litter garbage cans and 4 picnic tables have been installed.

The beautification of the area has continued with the planting of trees of different species and new grass, the preparation of the meadow area, the pruning of palm trees, the clearing of the whole environment and the installation of a drinking fountain.

Begoña Ortiz explained that Saturday’s events will begin at 09.30 am with a meeting of the Petanque Clubs of Estepona and Cancelada. At 12.30 pm there will be an exhibition by members of Crossfit NXS. At 13.00 hours there will be an exhibition on the calisthenics track and at 13.30 hours there will be the unveiling of the plaque. At 13.35 will begin an exhibition of skateboarding and at 14.00 hours a paella tasting that has the collaboration of the Neighborhood Association of Cancelada.

At the unveiling of the plaque will be present Ignacio’s father, Joaquin Echeverria, the Vice Consul of the British Consulate in Malaga, Miriam Perez, the parish priest Jose Carlos Huete and friends of the family.

The head of the Extraradio area has invited all the neighbors to participate this Saturday in the inauguration of facilities that expand the possibilities of exercising outdoors and promote healthy habits.