The Blanca Foundation for Athlete Support, created in 2022, is the first foundation with a comprehensive focus on elite athletes. This foundation will receive the support of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho. The prestigious tournament, which will be held from November 28 to December 1 at the Real Guadalhorce Golf Club in Málaga, is the final tournament of the Ladies European Tour (LET) season and will be the perfect setting to highlight the importance of mental health in high-performance sport.

The Foundation's name is a loving tribute to skier Blanca Fernández Ochoa, one of Spain's most iconic athletes. Blanca was the first Spanish woman to win an Olympic medal, at the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. Established in her memory, the Foundation was created to offer the personal support that many athletes lacked, focusing on improving their personal and professional lives, both during their careers and during the challenging period of retirement.

Key initiatives of the Blanca Foundation include the production of the documentary "The Journey: The Medal of Mental Health," which addresses the importance of mental well-being in sports; the creation of the Blanca Foundation Chair in collaboration with the University of Zaragoza and the Government of Aragon, whose objective is to investigate the psychological state of athletes; and the implementation of a 24/7 telephone psychological support service, in conjunction with the Health and Person Foundation, to provide support not only to athletes, but also to their families and close circle.

In addition, the foundation has launched the "Prepared" orientation workshops, in collaboration with LaLiga, which prepare Spanish professional footballers for their transition to retirement, addressing the psychological challenges involved in this process.

Lola Fernández Ochoa, president of the foundation and sister of the late Blanca, states: “We will do everything possible to raise awareness and normalize mental health in sports, identifying the indicators and triggers, and offering tools to break down the prejudices and taboos surrounding this issue. Working on mental health is the first medal we must offer our young athletes.”.

The support of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España presented by Oysho will be key for the Blanca Foundation to amplify its message and raise awareness about the importance of emotional well-being in sports. Lola thanked Deporte & Business, the event's promoter, for the opportunity to showcase the Foundation and its projects at such a high-profile event, emphasizing that "it is crucial to break down stigmas and offer support to athletes.".

This initiative highlights the importance of mental balance as a key pillar of athletic success. The combination of sporting excellence and emotional well-being is a shared commitment by both organizations, which will be reflected during the tournament at the Real Guadalhorce Golf Club.

SOURCE: Tournament organizers.