America rehabilitates a court in the navel of the Doctores neighborhood

Mexico City. The Garden of Graphic Arts is calm, just a few dozen people walk its sidewalks during midday. The facades of the buildings that surround the area show advertising for a pre-sale of apartments and the services of a mechanical workshop. Just a few meters away, a group of girls begins to look at the soccer field that is located in the center of the Doctores neighborhood, a space quite far from average measurements, but restored with bright colors that reflect the passion and dreams that they want to comply.

From Dr. José María Vértiz Street, the elements of a giant 438.6 square meter mural, designed by the artist Ariana Weibezahn and promoted by the América club and the Blue Women Pink Men civil association, arouse the interest of neighbors and merchants. “When I grow up I want to be like Katty.” Killer“, says little Amairany with the open microphone, surrounded by players from different teams from the Cuauhtémoc mayor’s office in a ceremony where they only talk about recovering public spaces through socio-artistic interventions.

Seeing all the growth that women’s soccer has had, not only for us with a professional league, but also outside with the inaugurations of fields and spaces, where girls and boys can feel safe sharing the same passion, makes us feel proud of what we are doingsays the historic forward of the American team, Katty Martínez, while handing out the latest shirts signed with her name. There are still many things to polish, but we are on the right track..

The traffic and the sounds of horns may multiply around us, but what there is most in this place is the desire to play a game despite the rays of a sweltering sun, as the professionals often do. All of them have the right to grow up in environments where they feel safe and happy., mentions Mrs. Irma, mother of one of the girls who follows the instructions of Ángel Villacampa’s coaching staff in a brief exercise routine. The Spaniard, like Martínez, Mariana Cadena and sports director Claudia Carrión, saves a carousel of souvenir images on his phone for another time.

The rehabilitation of this space also represents an important step in terms of gender equality., says Carrión on the side of the court, from where some of the figures designed by the Venezuelan artist Weibezahn can be seen on the cement floor. In total 20 volunteers participated and more than 320 liters of paint were used. Through our colors, we are breaking stereotypes and mitigating the social stigmas behind the imposition of gender in sportadds Mai Hernández, director of the Comex program for a well-made Mexico.

According to data from the consulting firm Riskop, the Cuauhtémoc mayor’s office has one of the lowest percentages (39 percent) of girls who practice sports such as soccer and basketball. Some people attribute this to the reputation for danger that stigmatizes certain areas of the neighborhood, including the Doctores neighborhood. Hope is the only thing that is lost, smiles a neighbor, with a blue apron and very white hair. In these areas there are things more important than sport, but even so the little ones claim their right to feel inspired by others.

What does it mean to be an example? Martínez asks amidst several voices that replicate goal shouts and expressions of recognition towards the professionals. It implies a lot of responsibility. Today we have the opportunity to make the League last for the growth of many more players. We want to transmit and do things as best as possible, so that they can also see us as a role model. That is what fills us most.

The authorities estimate that this field, one of the three that will be rehabilitated in the district, will give access to more than 40 thousand people to carry out sports and recreational activities and healthy coexistence.