Nerja dedicates a sculpture to the hotelier businessman Francisco Ortega 'Ayo', a pioneer of Malaga athletics

Nerja dedicates a sculpture to the hotelier businessman Francisco Ortega 'Ayo', a pioneer of Malaga athletics

EUGENIO CABEZAS Tuesday, June 21, 2022, 5:38 p.m.

COMPONENTS

Francisco Ortega Olalla 'Ayo' is one of the best-known hotel businessmen in Malaga. With his beach bar on Burriana beach in Nerja, he has been serving paellas for a whopping 55 years, which became world famous as a result of being the headquarters for the recording of the mythical series 'Verano Azul', released 40 years ago, in which He participated as an actor, playing himself. At 83 years old, Ayo is still at the foot of the canyon, with an establishment that boasts of being open 365 days a year.

But his multifaceted life beyond the stoves and the huge pots in which he prepares his peculiar rice dishes, because in his youth he also stood out as an athlete, becoming part of the national marathon team in 1969. He is also a true patron of sport, especially athletics, supporting the Nerja club, of which he was a co-founder, and which will experience a historic milestone this coming weekend, with the celebration of the absolute Spanish Championship in the easternmost coastal town of the province.

On the eve of this event, this coming Thursday, the City Council will hold an act of homage to Ayo, in which a sculpture will be unveiled in recognition of his sporting successes "as a pioneer of local athletics and in gratitude for his invaluable collaboration in promoting and contribution to Nerja athletics since 1957", as highlighted by the Consistory in a statement. It will take place at 8:30 p.m. in the vicinity of the southern entrance gate to the stadium of the sports city of Nerja.

The mayor, José Alberto Armijo, together with the Councilor for Sports, Daniel Rivas, and the vice-president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation and president of the Andalusian Federation, Enrique López Cuenca, explained that "this is how the Governing Board has decided, By virtue of the agreement adopted on May 27, approving a motion signed by the Mayor's Office, the Councilor for Sports and the municipal spokesmen for PP, PSOE and Ciudadanos, agreeing to celebrate said tribute.

Previous works

The alderman has highlighted the "importance" of this act for the City Council, "very important for this town and especially relevant and extraordinarily emotional for us." Thus, he has invited Nerjeños and Mareños to come «to such well-deserved recognition of Ayo, in his sporting facet. A man who deserves the greatest of our respect, affection, support and gratitude for everything he has done and continues to do selflessly for Nerja and its people," he said.

For his part, López Cuenca has joined the mayor's words, stressing that "from the RFEA, the FAA and local athletics we adhere to this initiative in recognition of the pioneer of Nerja athletics and founding member of the Nerja Athletics Club". »A well-deserved tribute that will remind us, every day we go to the sports city stadium, of Nerja's eternal gratitude to a person who has stood out for his kindness and personal characteristics, and for his qualities as an athlete,» he added.

The sculpture has been made by the Torreño artist Francisco Martín, author of other works already installed in the Axarquian town in the last two decades, such as that of King Alfonso XII and the tribute to the discoverers of the Cueva de Nerja on the Balcón de Europa , that of Chanquete on the Calahonda beach or that of José A. Pascual, who was a correspondent for Diario SUR in a square with his name in the neighborhood of El Chaparil.

TOPICS

TopicsBurriana, Málaga (Province), Nerja, Athletics, Blue summer, beach

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