Unicaja renews its sponsorship of the International Sella River Descent, one of the most traditional races and a hallmark of Asturias sport and culture, with which the bank has been collaborating for decades. This will be the 86th edition of the competition which, as every year, is held on the first Saturday of August, in this case, on the 3rd.
The head of Communication and Image of Unicaja, Fernando Ríos, and the president of the Organizing Committee of the International Sella River Descent (CODIS), Juan Manuel Feliz, have signed the agreement at the headquarters of the bank in Oviedo. Both have highlighted the importance of this sponsorship that gives continuity to the support of Unicaja to an emblematic event and considered a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
According to Fernando Ríos, "it is of great importance for Unicaja to be present, with its support, in sporting and cultural events of such importance for Asturian society and, in this case, with an impact also at a national and international level. Following the line set by our sustainability strategy, we are committed to contributing to development in the regions where we operate and, in this case, in Asturias, as one of our regions of origin".
The president of CODIS stressed that "we are delighted and grateful to have among our main sponsors a national bank with a large presence in Asturias as Unicaja, which has been supporting the International Sella River Descent for many years. This support helps us to try to make a bigger and bigger Sella".
The agreement includes, in addition to Unicaja's financial support, collaboration with materials for the development of the event.
Over one thousand participants and tens of thousands of spectators
The International Sella River Descent, starting in Arriondas and finishing in Ribadesella, is considered one of the most important races in the world in the descent of rivers. It currently has a participation that exceeds a thousand canoeists, in addition to the attendance of nearly 300,000 people to witness the sporting event also known as the 'Fiesta de las Piraguas'.
It is an unmissable event every first Saturday in August since 1930, and since 1951 it has welcomed international athletes. In fact, every year it has participants from more than 10 countries.
Officially declared of International Tourist Interest, this fiesta combines two different aspects: on the one hand, the sporting event, gathering in it the best of canoeing of the moment, and, on the other hand, the fiesta, as it attracts thousands of visitors, both national and international, making towns like Arriondas or Ribadesella one of the most important tourist centers throughout the region.