The WBC, Mexican Olympic Committee, Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation and the INM unite to bring sport to migrants

Today a pilot program was launched to promote sports  among migrants after an historic alliance between the Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation for Sports, the National Institute for Migration, the Mexican Olympic Committee and the World Boxing Council.

Those  involved appreciate  that sport  is one of the most powerful enablers  for improving and modifying social environment. With the firm  intention of establishing  a precedent around the promotion of migrant rights, the opening and installation of two physical activation modules for boxing in women’s and men’s areas was done at the Las Agujas Migratory Station, in Iztapalapa. Equipment  include gloves, protectors, ropes, mitts,  medicine ball, heavy bags, speed bags and wraps.

“The purpose of this initiative is promoting physical activation and sports practice to foreign population that temporarily is in the migratory stations and shelters under the protection of the National Institute of Migration,” Dr. Daniel Aceves Villagran said.

The National Migration Commissioner, Dr. Francisco Garduño Yáñez, commented that the current administration is working to provide better and high-quality services for people who carry out any procedure in the dependency under their charge, including the implementation of sports activities that are considered as a human right.

World Boxing Council President  Mauricio Sulaiman expressed that the WBC will join with all of its capabilities and experience  to contribute to this initiative, in the knowledge that sport is one of the most powerful tools for transforming relives.

The event was attended by the Vice President of the Mexican Olympic Committee, Jimena Saldaña; the Secretary General, Mario García de la Torre; the General Director of Coordination of Representative Offices of the INM, Dr. Héctor Martínez Castuera and the General Director of Migrant Protection and Engagement, Dr. Ruth Villanueva Castilleja.