Español
His Majesty the King of Spain, Felipe VI, was in charge of presenting the trophy to the winning team of this edition of the Solheim Cup. His presence only reinforces the support of the Royal Household for one of the most important sporting competitions to be held in our country in 2023. It is worth remembering that H.M. Queen Letizia has held the position of Honorary President of the Solheim Cup 2023 since it was announced that it would be held for the first time in Spain.
Throughout the day, H.M. The King had the opportunity to follow some of the matches on the Finca Cortesín course, before presiding over the closing ceremony of the Solheim Cup and presenting the trophy to the winning team. He stopped especially at the 16th and 17th holes, where some of the matches were being decided and there was a spectacular atmosphere, with the fans of both teams cheering non-stop.
cheering non-stop.
The monarch was accompanied at the ceremony, held in the Plaza de Andalucía, by Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Junta de Andalucía, and by Víctor Francos, Secretary of State for Sport, as well as the local authorities, who were all in full support of the event.
Our ‘exes’ are also cheering
Seven Spanish golfers have had the privilege of playing at least one edition of the Solheim Cup, and several of them have spent the last few days at Finca Cortesín to offer their support and encouragement to the European team. Ana Belén Sánchez (who played in the 2003 edition) has spent the whole week here involved in her impeccable work as head of volunteers, and Paula Martí (2002) has also lived the week intensely from the beginning as assistant to the team, while Tania Elósegui (2009) has been the surprise (and pleasant) visitor. The good vibes of these three veterans have also helped to boost the European draw.
Not only Carlota has played this Solheim Cup
Speaking of the professionals involved in the tournament, it is worth noting the interest with which many active professional golfers have followed the competition. On the streets of Finca Cortesín the fans have been able to meet Álvaro Quirós, Nuria Iturrioz, Luna Sobrón, Marta Martín, Emma Cabrera, Piti Martínez -who has acted as a cheerleader on hole 1 with great success-, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Juan Quirós, Laura Gómez,…and of course, Chema Olazábal, who has gathered strength and energy for what is coming next week in Rome.
Not just any trophy
The Solheim Cup trophy that the European and US teams have been fighting for these days is a crystal glass made by the prestigious Irish firm Waterford Crystal. Weighing just over nine kilos, the cup measures almost half a metre in height (49 centimetres exactly), including the mahogany base, and has a diameter of almost 11.50 at the top and almost 21 at the bottom. In addition, the central area of the trophy is occupied by an oval with the Solheim Cup name and the silhouette of the cup.
The most sustainable Solheim Cup in history
One of the objectives of this edition of the Solheim Cup has been to make it one of the most sustainable in history and to set the path for the future of the competition. To achieve this, a venue such as Finca Cortesín, which uses 100% recycled water and has been awarded the GEO Certified® label, was chosen. The event organizers created the innovative figure of the “sustainability partner”, designed for all those companies committed to the environment that have joined the Solheim Cup 2023.
Local companies have been chosen for all the needs of the event; the waste generated by spectators has been efficiently managed; and the use of plastics and paper has been reduced.
Finally, attendees have been able to calculate their carbon footprint through the Zero Footprint action, established by the Costa del Sol, as well as create with their own hands, thanks to PING, some seeds of different varieties of trees that after the Solheim Cup 2023 will be planted in the Finca La Almoraima.
More information on the website www.solheimcup2023.eu, on the Twitter account @SolheimCup2023, on the Instagram account @solheimcup2023esp and on the Facebook page Solheim Cup 2023.
