FIM joins the Jerez Walk of Fame
Today, FIM President Vito Ippolito took part in a ceremony in which the FIM proudly became the fourth party to be recognised in the Walk of Fame in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. This presence will be one of the lasting legacies of the celebration of Jerez de la Frontera’s status as the World Capital of Motorcycling 2015.
Mr Ippolito and the Mayor of Jerez, Maria Jose Garcia-Pelayo, together unveiled the FIM Star Wheel. The fifth wheel, representing the FIM’s affiliated national federation in Spain, the RFME, was unveiled immediately afterwards by the RFME President, Mr Angel Viladoms. The FIM’s commemorative plaque takes its place on the famous Walk beside those already dedicated to motorcycling legends Angel Nieto and Giacomo Agostini earlier this year and to the late Francisco Pacheco Romero, founder of the Jerez moto club and promoter of motorcycling in Jerez.
Since the official announcement of its appointment the first ever World Capital of Motorcycling during the FIM Gala Ceremony held in the city late last year, Jerez de Frontera has been planning a whole range of activities to take place during 2015. The Walk of Fame will be just one of the permanent reminders of the great honour bestowed on the city and its close relationship with motorcycling.
After today’s formalities, the representatives of the FIM and the authorities of Jerez de la Frontera took the opportunity to highlight the FIM Women & Sustainability in Motorcycling Conference that will take place in the city from 5-7 June 2015. This three-day Conference marking World Environment Day will draw on the experience gained over more than 20 years of the FIM Ride Green Programme and through the activities of the FIM Women in Motorcycling Commission. It will bring together more than 30 international experts on gender and sustainability.
The main focus of the conference will be to present research, projects and experience on women and sustainability in order to share and reinforce the combined knowledge of all the parties involved. It will provide a platform for the world of sport to present its sustainability programmes and to play its part in raising awareness and creating a positive understanding of the role of women in sustainable sport amongst its many thousands of fans across the planet. One of the aims of the Conference is to propose a declaration on sustainable ways of working to be implemented by the City of Jerez de la Frontera.
Speaking after today’s ceremony FIM President Vito Ippolito expressed his satisfaction: “Firstly on behalf of the FIM I would like to thank the city of Jerez de la Frontera for welcoming us to their very special Walk of Fame. This piece of ground will remain in the memory of the city and all those who visit Jerez for many, many years to come. It will be a permanent reminder of the first ever appointed World Capital of Motorcycling.”
Mr Ippolito concluded by stating: “Now is a good moment to look ahead to all wonderful events, sporting and beyond sport, that will take place in Jerez during the remainder of 2015. I would like to give a special mention to the importance of the FIM Women & Sustainability in Motorcycling Conference that will be hosted here in early June with the active support of our national federations and associates.”
The Mayor of Jerez de la Frontera, María José García Pelayo, highlighted the great opportunity that the joint projects with the FIM through the appointment as World Capital of Motorcycling represent for Jerez: “This event which our institutions are developing together will place Jerez back on the map with a programme of events that will enable the City to position itself among the elite of the sport.”
Mrs García Pelayo went on to say that “the city is again opening its doors to Europe and the rest of the world with this tribute to the FIM on the Walk of Fame for its invaluable contribution to the development of motorcycling”.
The Mayor also stressed the importance for Jerez of hosting a Conference on Motorcycling, Women and Sustainability. This high-profile event, which will take place in June, “will have a positive impact on the local economy and help to promote Jerez throughout the world”.
The calendar of events of the World Capital of Motorcycling – Jerez 2015 is as follows:
Sport :
29 March FIM SuperMoto
3 May FIM MotoGP
9-10 May FIM Enduro
23 May FIM Freestyle
12-13 September FIM Trial
20 September FIM Superbike
1 November FIM-CEV Repsol
Beyond Sport :
28-29 March FIM Europe – Workshop on Leadership Part 1
24-25 April FIM Europe – Senior Motorcycling Activity Conference
5-7 June FIM – Women & Sustainability in Motorcycling Conference
21 November FIM General Assembly
23-24 November FIM Europe – Workshop on Leadership Part 2
23-24 November FIM Europe – Emergency Sports Medicine symposium