His Majesty King Felipe VI presides over the awards ceremony
His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain presented the trophy to the winning team of this year's Solheim Cup. His presence further reinforces the Royal Household's support for one of the most important sporting competitions taking place in Spain in 2023. It is worth noting that Her Majesty Queen Letizia has held the position of Honorary President of the 2023 Solheim Cup since it was announced that it would be held in Spain for the first time.
Throughout the day, His Majesty the King had the opportunity to watch some of the matches on the Finca Cortesín course before presiding over the Solheim Cup closing ceremony and presenting the trophy to the winning team. He paused particularly at holes 16 and 17, where some matches were being decided and the atmosphere was electric, with fans from both teams cheering non-stop.
The monarch was accompanied at the ceremony, held in the Plaza de Andalucía, by Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Junta de Andalucía, and by Víctor Francos, Secretary of State for Sport, as well as the local authorities, who were fully committed to the event.
Our exes also cheer us on
Seven Spanish golfers have had the privilege of playing in at least one edition of the Solheim Cup, and several of them have visited Finca Cortesín this week to offer their support and encouragement to the European team. Ana Belén Sánchez (who played in the 2003 edition) has spent the entire week here, dedicated to her impeccable work as volunteer coordinator, and Paula Martí (2002) has also been fully involved from the start, serving as a team assistant. Tania Elósegui (2009) was the surprise (and welcome) visitor. The positive energy of these three veterans has also helped to boost the European team.
Carlota isn't the only one who has played in this Solheim tournament.
Speaking of professionals involved in the tournament, it's worth noting the interest with which many active professional golfers have followed the competition. Along the fairways of Finca Cortesín, fans have spotted Álvaro Quirós, Nuria Iturrioz, Luna Sobrón, Marta Martín, Emma Cabrera, Piti Martínez—who acted as the host of the first hole with great success—Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Juan Quirós, Laura Gómez, and of course, Chema Olazábal, who has gathered strength and energy for what lies ahead next week in Rome.
It's not just any trophy.
The Solheim Cup trophy, for which teams from Europe and the United States have been competing these past few days, is a crystal cup made by the prestigious Irish firm Waterford Crystal. Weighing just over nine kilograms, the cup measures almost half a meter in height (49 centimeters exactly), including the mahogany base, and has a diameter of almost 11.50 meters at the top and almost 21 meters at the bottom. Furthermore, the central area of the trophy features an oval bearing the name "Solheim Cup" and the silhouette of the cup.
The most sustainable Solheim Cup in history
One of the goals of this year's Solheim Cup was to make it one of the most sustainable in history and to set the standard for the competition's future. To achieve this, the venue, Finca Cortesín, was chosen, using 100% of recycled water and receiving the GEO Certified® label. The event organizers also created the innovative role of "sustainability partner," designed for all environmentally committed companies that have joined the 2023 Solheim Cup.
Local businesses were chosen for all the event's needs; waste generated by spectators was managed efficiently; and the use of plastics and paper was reduced. Finally, attendees were able to calculate their carbon footprint through the Zero Footprint initiative, established by the Costa del Sol, and, thanks to PING, create their own seeds of different tree varieties that will be planted at Finca La Almoraima after the 2023 Solheim Cup.
