Sport secretary Jordi Vidal sat down with department specialists Pere Serra and Michael Romero to report on the progress of the Formentera Council and Govern balear's plan to promote values education through sport. The three held a press conference at 12 noon in the administration's Sala d'Actes.

“We remain firmly convinced,” said Vidal, “of sport's ability to transmit values-based education. Whether on a team or practised individually, sport promotes not just good health, but universally beneficial social values, too.”

Vidal described the campaign's associated Values Plan as “a roadmap for everyone involved —players, parents and family members, specialists, coaches, clubs, instructors, trainers and outside consultants.” In the secretary's words, “we want sport on Formentera to be healthier, with stronger roots in values like equality, respect, commitment, effort and teamwork”.

Challenges in the future
The values-based strategy remains in place across schools this year. Programmed events have already begun, such as one talk led by triathlete Ana Casares aimed at helping secondary pupils at IES Marc Ferrer juggle schoolwork and sport. The challenge is a real one: following the strategy's launch last year, links were identified between children over 12 in sport and academic failure.

In their effort to pinpoint challenges facing values-based sport moving ahead, sport consultants were enlisted to interview trainers, parents and child athletes. Findings  were used to point out potential growth areas for sport on the island, part of an effort to ensure healthy lifestyles among future generations of Formentera adults.

Generally, the survey highlighted a need for more robust parental involvement, in particular among mothers, which were identified as those most likely to take an active role in their child's engagement on the sports pitch. Other conclusions included the need for structural changes within clubs to allow for more effective instruction; broader roles for parents, trainers and coaches; a space for instructors to share advice and experiences; and work fostering social inclusion.

Formentera Council president Jaume Ferrer, president's office secretary Bartomeu Escandell and Joan Mayans, head of Policia Local de Formentera, congregated in plaça de la Constitució to unveil the law enforcement agency's latest acquisition: two new hybrid vehicles.

The pair of Toyota RAV4s, hybrid all-terrain vehicles, had a total cost of €57.829 (VAT included). The local police force will use the SUVs to replace part of its arsenal purchased ten years ago. Councillor Escandell said that in making the purchase, the administration took into account cars' “adaptability to local terrain and environmental sensitivity”.

In all, Formentera's local police fleet comprises four cars (two hybrids and two combustion engines), one van, four motorcycles and one tow-truck.