Esquerra (ERC) has identified about twenty Catalan sports federations that could compete internationally with their own team. This is stated in an internal draft accessed by EL PAÍS, in which the party outlines a map of disciplines with “windows of opportunity” to advance towards international recognition. The document is part of the republicans’ political work to define the scope of the future Office for the promotion of Catalan teams that the PSC and ERC are finalizing, as this newspaper reported, and which should support those federations interested.
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In total, the text points out 19 federations that could explore their international projection: football, tennis, athletics, hiking, fencing, wrestling, pelota, chess, baseball and softball, skating, fishing, winter sports, table tennis, motor racing, bowling and tenpin bowling, volleyball, polo, and orienteering races. All of them meet the criteria established by law: a strong social rooting and that the Catalan federation in question was established before the Spanish one. The final decision, in any case, depends on the corresponding international federation. The regulation also emphasizes that, before taking the step, a prior agreement must be reached with the Higher Sports Council.
From the draft, there are two disciplines marked in red: skating and bowling. The first already competed (and won) internationally in 2004 at the B tournament in Macau (China), before the International Federation revoked its full membership after complaints from the Spanish federation. The second has also achieved success in international tournaments.
The willingness to compete internationally depends on the federation itself. It must share its interest and negotiate with the CSD the possibility of taking the step. The Government has already informed the state body that the Office will soon be launched and that dialogues can be opened. The case of Basque pelota, whose Basque federation obtained CSD support a year ago to open its borders, is presented as a precedent in favor of regional sport. Spain and Euskadi competed in June 2025 in the Cesta Punta Nations League. “Basque pelota is not a Spanish sport in the sense that it is practiced throughout Spain,” said the president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, at the time. “It has to be channeled through federations that have adopted that practice,” he added.
The Office for the promotion of Catalan teams, in its final phase of creation, is part of the investiture agreement between PSC and ERC. “The international projection of Catalan sports federations and the recognition of Catalan sports teams will be promoted, in accordance with the will and joint work with the federations,” the text concludes. Now republicans and socialists are studying how it should be publicized. In the midst of budget negotiations, the Office fits as part of the “sovereignty advances” that ERC demands, but both parties admit that it is not a bargaining chip to fill the gap left by the transfer of IRPF management in Catalonia, which is currently blocked. Its development, in any case, represents a meeting point.
The Parliament of Catalonia already approved in December 2025 a motion urging the Government to demand from the Spanish Government the official recognition of Catalan sports teams and to promote “the necessary regulatory changes to make their participation in international competitions possible.” This Thursday, the issue came up again in the Catalan Chamber during a motion promoted by the PP on sports policies. “What problem do you have with us officially competing in any competition representing Catalonia?” asked Marta Rovira (ERC) to the Popular deputies. “Do you know that many Catalan federations were created before the Spanish one?” she insisted. For Junts, the future of the Catalan team must continue to advance. “If the minister [Álvarez] believes it, we are closer to achieving it; and a window of opportunity has opened with the Basque pelota case,” defended deputy Anna Erra (Junts).
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