By Adam Woodward
Esteban Ortuño, a 27-year-old native from Orihuela, returned home on Sunday, June 29, after completing an epic bicycle journey of 3,500 kilometres from Athens to advocate for the building of the Sports City, a facility that has been promised for as many years as he has been alive.
A welcome ceremony and party was laid on for 11am at La Glorieta, where a large crowded gathered to honour his remarkable effort in highlighting the decades-long lack of sufficient sports facilities in Orihuela. At 10.30am, a group bike ride departed from the Casa Corro restaurant, allowing supporters to join Esteban for the final 2.5 kilometres into the heart of Orihuela.
The group Pro Ciudad Deportiva de Orihuela, which has been advocating for better sports facilities for over a decade, organised the event as a symbol of hope and public commitment. Esteban’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment, midway through the local government’s term, when guarantees regarding sports infrastructure are being called for by local people, according to the platform. They are calling on Mayor Pepe Vegara to speed up pending steps, including earmarking the land, building an athletics track, and constructing a multi-purpose sports hall.
Sports clubs, cyclists, families, and residents attended the event to cheer on Esteban. In January, Orihuela Council began legally processing the Sports City project, planned for a 150,000-square-metre site in the Los Huertos neighbourhood with an estimated investment of €22 million. The development promised will include a new football field, a multi-purpose sports hall, a versatile auditorium, and other much needed sports facilities.