Barcelona’s mayor has presented Rafel Niubò Baqué with the Medalla d’Or al Mèrit Esportiu, citing his decades of work advancing inclusion and social cohesion in sport. The ceremony spotlighted his lasting imprint on the city’s athletic life.
Inside the Saló de Cent, Rafel Niubò Baqué accepted the Medalla d’Or al Mèrit Esportiu from mayor Jaume Collboni. The city’s highest sports distinction landed in the hands of a man whose approach has shaped how Barcelona thinks about athletics. For Niubò, sport means access and equality, not just competition.
Collboni didn’t mince words. He credited Niubò’s grassroots vision for opening doors to participation across Barcelona. The mayor’s remarks, delivered at the October 8, 2026 ceremony and documented by the Barcelona City Council, pointed to a model that has drawn international attention. Europa Press confirmed the event and its official record.
Rafel Niubò was born in Barcelona in 1956 and is one of the founders of Escola d’Iniciació Esportiva de les Corts and UBAE, where he also served as director general.
Niubò’s fingerprints are all over the city’s sports institutions. He helped launch Escola d’Iniciació Esportiva de les Corts and Unió Barcelonesa d’Activitats Esportives, then ran UBAE as director general. Both groups put community and access at the center. His reach didn’t stop at city limits. Niubò played a role in the European Union’s Forum of Sports and led the Confederación Europea de Deporte y Salud from 1995 to 2003. Mundo Deportivo reported that his model—anchored in inclusion and health—became a reference point across Europe.
During his time as secretari general de l’Esport de la Generalitat de Catalunya from 2004 to 2006, Niubò pushed for Catalan teams to assert their identity. The Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya awarded him its gold medal in 2009. He later served as secretary general of the vice presidency of the Generalitat de Catalunya and now sits on the Consell Municipal de l’Esport de l’Ajuntament de Barcelona.
From 1995 to 2003, Niubò served as president of the European Confederation of Sport and Health, actively participating in shaping European sports policy and promoting health through sport at the continental level.
His book "Barcelona y el deporte, un modelo de éxito" (2025) promises a closer look at the city’s approach. David Escudé, the city’s sports councillor, attended the ceremony, signaling institutional backing for the award.
Barcelona’s sporting life has weathered its share of shocks and recoveries. Niubò’s method—grounded in openness and shared participation—offers a clear alternative to exclusion. The city’s decision to honor him with the Medalla d’Or al Mèrit Esportiu stands as a public commitment to those values. The recognition lands at a moment when Barcelona’s priorities are under scrutiny, and Niubò’s model remains in the spotlight.
