The late Calpisa and former Spanish handball player Nacho Novoa yesterday faced his memorial plaque, expressing that it was an honor to have a gym named in the Ciudad Jardín district of Alicante, the city he represents and where he spent his youth and professional years after a distinguished career in the sport.
Born in 1955 in Irun, Novoa attended the unveiling of the plaque on Monday, which brought a new identity to the gym near his current home, a place where he trained as both a player and a coach. The Alicante Sports Council attended the ceremony along with Novoa’s relatives, and representatives from clubs including Intercity Group and EON Horneo Alicante, as well as staff from the department where Novoa has built a three-decade-long professional career.
Following the discovery of the sign bearing his name, the City Council released a short video highlighting Novoa’s sports career. Novoa was a historic member of Calpisa, a team that dominated national championships in the late 1970s and featured him as a member of the Spanish national team 188 times. He also competed in the Olympic Games in Moscow and Los Angeles.
Ciudad Jardín pavilion will add Nacho Novoa’s name to its sect
The report authors emphasize Novoa’s sports achievements, while underscoring his human qualities. He is remembered as someone loved and respected throughout the local sports community. The current Mayor of Sports noted that Alicante needs figures with Novoa’s style and his distinctive sense of humor. Although he was not born in the city, he is considered a permanent part of Alicante and will always be linked to it.
“I fell in love with this city the first day I arrived, I feel like the happiest man in the world, I achieved all my professional and sportive achievements here”
Novoa expressed humility about the tribute, stating that he was not sure if he deserved it, and that he fell in love with Alicante from the very first day he moved there. He reflected on his sporting successes achieved in the city, his marriage, and his family, and he conveyed heartfelt gratitude for the support he received. He described himself as the luckiest person in the world at that moment.
The Ministry of Sports has proposed to the Board of Directors renaming the Ciudad Jardín Pavilion on Economista Germán Bernacer street to Ciudad Jardín Pabellón Nacho Novoa. The plan is to formalize the new name through the appropriate channels.
Famous
In time, the Irun-born athlete has become a celebrated figure in Alicante, recognized for both his sporting excellence and his contributions to the city’s prestige. This recognition aligns with a broader trend of honoring individuals who have elevated the city through their dedication and achievements in sport.