03/26/2020 18:51
(Act. 26.03.2020 18:51)
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Tennis superstar Rafael Nadal has made an urgent call for donations to Spain’s sports stars. The 33-year-old Mallorcan hopes that it will be possible to collect eleven million euros to fight the coronavirus. After Italy, Spain is now the country most affected by the pandemic in Europe, with more than 56,000 infections and over 4,000 deaths.
Nadal said he has already spoken to NBA star Pau Gasol about what you can do to help. This gave rise to the idea of an initiative to support the Red Cross in Spain with the procurement of protective equipment and families in need who are directly affected by the virus.
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“I think we are the athletes we are, largely because of your support. And now it’s time that these athletes don’t let you down,” said Nadal in a video message. “We have come to the conclusion that it is now time to launch an initiative that we hope all Spanish athletes can show together as a sign of solidarity and serve as a good example.”
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The declared goal is eleven million euros “to help 1.35 million people,” said Nadal. “We trust that all of Spanish sport will be involved. (…) Pau and I have already made our donations and we trust in you that you will contribute to our best victory.”
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Even before Nadal, his permanent rival Roger Federer announced on Wednesday that he would donate one million Swiss francs (around 950,000 euros) to vulnerable families in his Swiss homeland. Argentinian world footballer Lionel Messi from FC Barcelona and Catalan Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola each donated one million euros to help clinics and medical centers fight Covid-19.
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Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has already financed equipment for hospitals in his Portuguese homeland. And together with his advisor Jorge Mendes, he also wants to sponsor at least three intensive care units, each with a “capacity of ten beds”, as the local health authorities said on Tuesday.
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Spanish football record champions Real Madrid are also taking part in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic: the “Royal” have made the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu available for the storage of private donations since Thursday. According to Real, the health authorities will take care of their distribution to the various hospitals. Sergio Ramos, the captain of the Madrilenians, has already donated 264,000 face masks and 15,000 coronavirus test kits through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
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