The sports season in Marchamalo has officially begun, maintaining a stable registration figure of 3,500 participants, the highest since the establishment of the Municipal Sports Service. This number reflects the community's commitment to regular physical activity within the local facilities.
Most participants are engaged in various activities offered under the Adult Sports Programme or are part of one of the local sports clubs, with approximately 1,500 individuals registered. Additionally, nearly 900 children are enrolled in the Sports Schools, while the Covered Pool at the 'García Fraguas' Sports Complex has over 1,250 registered users.
Funding for sports promotion
As autumn arrives, so does the return of sporting activities in Marchamalo. The diverse range of offerings across three extensive sports complexes has helped maintain the impressive registration numbers. This inclusive and economically accessible municipal sports model, managed by the Municipal Sports Service, has allowed the community to reach the previous year's peak of 3,500 regular participants.
This season also sees the introduction of a new Mountain Biking and Pump-Track Sports School, which is the main novelty for the year. Across the various sports offerings, there has been a slight increase in registrations compared to the previous season. For instance, enrolment in the Municipal Sports Schools has risen from 857 to 875 children across nearly twenty disciplines.
Furthermore, the number of users at the Covered Pool has increased from 1,202 to 1,256, including those participating in swimming courses or as free swimmers. Adult participation remains strong, with over 1,400 individuals registered in various activities or through sports clubs using public facilities.
Popular activities
Among the sports activities, the Municipal Football School continues to attract a significant number of children, with registrations slightly up to 275. This figure does not include the newly formed second youth team of CD Marchamalo, as club members are not counted in this statistic. Other popular activities include the Dance School with over 100 registrations, as well as mountain sports and volleyball, both exceeding 70 participants.
In absolute terms, activities such as Fitness, with 247 registrations, Cross-Training (over 200), Wellness (169), and Triathlon (133) are also noteworthy. The Padel School has seen substantial growth, with 199 adult and 51 child registrations, thanks to the four covered courts at the 'Llanos Manrique' Sports Complex. This facility, which was covered two years ago, is set to receive additional municipal investment for complete lateral enclosure, having been selected as a winning project in the Participatory Budgets process for 2027.
Another service set to expand this year is the gym at the 'García Fraguas' Sports Complex, which will open two additional weeks per year, allowing its nearly 400 users to enjoy the facilities until 13 August at the same price.
Open call for sports promotion grants
The Sports Department has also announced its annual call for grants to promote sports, aimed at local sports associations, clubs, or federated athletes conducting non-profit activities in Marchamalo. Any eligible entity or individual can apply for this new funding round, which is endowed with €12,000 from the municipal budget, provided they have not received other forms of assistance from the Marchamalo Town Hall this year.
These public funds can be used to finance activities or projects undertaken or planned for the current year, with a deadline for submissions set for 21 November. The standard application form and guidelines are available at the Marchamalo Town Hall or can be downloaded from the municipal website, to be submitted alongside the required documentation.
Marchamalo as a hub for affordable sports
The strong level of sports participation in Marchamalo is directly linked to the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, a focus that has been in place since the municipality's separation from Guadalajara in 1999 and the subsequent establishment of the Municipal Sports Service. Over the past two decades, a development plan for sports infrastructure has enabled the community to grow from 3,000 users before the pandemic in 2020 to the current 3,500, in a municipality with just over 9,000 registered inhabitants.
In addition to the diverse range of activities managed by the Municipal Sports Services, numerous public spaces allow for outdoor sports practice free of charge, including futsal, basketball, 3x3 sports, beach volleyball, calisthenics, a skate bowl, and the recently inaugurated pump-track circuit located next to the 'Espacio para la Convivencia', which will soon feature a ping-pong table.
