Iberdrola Supera Awards spotlight equality in sport
The president of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, led today’s presentation of the Iberdrola Supera Awards, a program that grants a total of €300,000 to support projects advancing gender equality through sport. The winning initiatives, selected across six categories, will receive funding to bring their plans to life.
Since 2016, Iberdrola has stood as a major patron of women’s sports in Spain. The company supports 32 National Federations and helps more than 600,000 federated women, representing a significant share of the sport’s female participants in the country. With more than 100 competitions carrying the Iberdrola name, including 32 leagues, the organization reinforces its commitment to female athletes at every level.
During the awards, Galán emphasized that Iberdrola embeds equality into its core strategy by backing the dreams of girls and women through sport. He compared building a strong foundation to supporting athletes who dream big, saying that the actions taken today pave the path to future success and broaden visibility from grassroots participation to elite competition, including initiatives that address mental health and social aspects of sport. (Iberdrola press office statement)
The Honor Jury, composed of renowned figures such as Susanna Griso, Sonsoles Ónega, Eli Pinedo, Ona Carbonell, Amanda Sampedro, Carolina Marín, Javier Fernández, Jesús Carballo, Manu Carreño, Marta Arce, Paloma del Río, Sandra Sánchez, Silvia Navarro, Teresa Perales and Bosque, deliberated for several days to reach its decision. (Official jury notes)
The ceremony was hosted by journalist Aurora González, with entertainment from illusionist Jorge Luengo and singer Luz Casal. Attendees included the President of the Supreme Sports Council José Manuel Franco, María Victoria Cabezas, general secretary of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Miguel Carballeda, president of the Spanish Paralympic Committee, Sofia Miranda, Madrid City Council’s sports delegate, representatives from Iberdrola’s 32 allied national federations, and numerous Iberdrola ambassadors such as Carolina Marín, Ona Carbonell and Teresa Perales. (Event report)
Today’s celebration, titled the third edition of Premios Supera, highlighted Iberdrola’s ongoing support for female athletes. The event showcased 600 submissions and underscored the company’s role in promoting equality through sport. Each of the six winning projects will receive €50,000, totaling €300,000 in prize money. The six categories are targeted at different aspects of sport, from grassroots participation to media and health support. (Award summary)
-“Super Base” aims to boost grassroots sport for girls up to 16, supporting the Getxo Skating and Roller Hockey Club in the Basque Country to strengthen its facilities.
-“Super Competition” supports Club Deportivo Pingüinos Rugby de Burgos in Castilla y León, helping the team reach Division B of Honor and making rugby a reference sport for all women and girls across the state.
-“Over-Inclusiveness” focuses on including women with special abilities in sport, with Delikia Sports Club promoting athletics among disabled youth through school, community and medical networks in Galicia.
-“Super Social” promotes social integration through sport and assists Algeciras Rowing Club in Andalusia in recruiting women who have overcome breast cancer to join the rowing team.
-“Super Diffusion” recognizes the ExtTV channel’s documentary series “Conquistadoras,” which tells the stories of athletes, clubs and federations to boost visibility and appreciation for women’s sports.
-“Super Mental Health” introduces a new emphasis on mental health care in sport, highlighted by Affit’s project “Train your wings,” which supports a sports program at the Castellón Provincial Hospital’s Treatment Training Unit and helps adolescents increase physical activity. (Award explanations)
These initiatives illustrate a broad, practical approach to equality in sport: building infrastructure, fostering competitive opportunities, lifting underrepresented athletes, expanding media exposure and prioritizing mental health as a core component of athletic life. (Program rationale)
The overall impact of the Supera Awards is to elevate women’s sports across Spain, providing a powerful example of how corporate sponsorship can translate into real, measurable progress for female athletes and communities connected to sport. (Impact assessment)