Jon Luqui, president of the Mancomunidad, accompanied by Sergio Galdeano (from the Goierri club in Urretxu) and Felipe Elgarresta (from the Urola club in Zumarraga), led the presentation. The Ilintxa club of Legazpi is also involved in the project but could not attend the event. Also present were Edurne Matias and Alex Gonzalez, councilors for Basque language in Legazpi and Urretxu, and Mikel Perez from the Emun cooperative, a collaborator in the project's development.
The primary objective of the project is "to promote Basque in the world of sports," explained Luqui. "In sports, children and adolescents work together, families are present, as are coaches, and it is within these hours of sports activities that we are developing this project, believing that sport is an essential safe space for the use of Basque." They have collaborated closely with Basque language technicians, sports agents from the associated municipalities, and the Emun company.
The initiative began with a diagnosis, and after recognizing "the time had come to go a step further," interventions were implemented. During the 2025-2026 academic year, practical measures were designed and put into action to increase the use of Basque in training sessions and sports clubs, specifically within the Urola football club, the Goierri handball club, and the Ilintxa sports club. Each club has developed its own tailored micro-plan.
Felipe Elgarresta (Urola) described the work as "very enriching," as they examined the functioning of the entire club, including communication, documentation, coaching practices, music, and daily habits. Coaches, families, board members, and players participated in reflection sessions. Currently, they have a Strategic Basque Language Plan in place and an action plan defined for 2026.
Sergio Galdeano (Goierri) stated that the process has enabled them to address the issue of Basque strategically. "The micro-plan has helped us analyze the situation, set priorities, and agree on concrete steps." He emphasized that they have begun integrating Basque language management into the club's daily decisions, a practice that will continue in the coming years.
According to Jon Luqui, the Ilintxa club also provided a positive assessment, highlighting that the reflection process underscored the need to strategically address Basque language use. They plan to continue developing and implementing the Basque language plan in the coming months.
Looking ahead, the main challenges include continuing to work with the participating clubs to achieve greater autonomy, strengthening practical measures to influence coaches and training sessions, and attracting more clubs to the project to enhance the presence and use of Basque throughout the region's sports network. An agreement has been signed between the Urola Garaia Mancomunidad and the participating sports clubs to solidify their collaboration.
