Unicaja has renewed its support for the International Sella River Descent as a sponsor by signing a collaboration agreement that will run for the next five editions of the iconic event. The agreement also provides for the financial institution’s collaboration with the race’s Organising Committee in organising and running the activities to mark the race’s centenary, which will be celebrated in 2030.
The agreement was signed at Unicaja’s headquarters in Oviedo by the bank’s head of Communications and Corporate Image, Fernando Ríos, and the president of the Organising Committee of the International Sella River Descent (CODIS), Juan Manuel Feliz, who emphasised the importance of this sponsorship in reinforcing support for an iconic event that has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest.
“For Unicaja, this is a particularly significant sponsorship, given the historical and symbolic value of an event that has become a hallmark of Asturian sport and culture. Our organisation wishes to stand alongside initiatives that generate value for society, especially in regions such as Asturias, which are part of Unicaja’s DNA,” said Fernando Ríos.
“The renewal of this agreement is excellent news for the International Sella River Descent. Having the backing of an organisation such as Unicaja gives us the stability and confidence to continue promoting this unique event and to approach the preparations for such a significant milestone as the centenary in 2030 with ambition,” said Juan Manuel Feliz.
In addition to financial support from Unicaja, the agreement includes the provision of various materials to help organise the event, which will take place on 8 August, starting in Arriondas and finishing in Ribadesella.
The International Sella River Descent attracts, every year, over a thousand paddlers and 300,000 visitors, establishing itself as one of the major sporting and festive events of the summer in Asturias. Popularly known as ‘the Canoe Festival’, the event combines sport, tradition and celebration, with a wide-ranging programme of supporting activities and significant national and international exposure.
Preparations for the Descent’s centenary
In 2030, the International Sella River Descent will mark its centenary. Unicaja, which has been associated with this iconic event for decades, has expressed its desire to play an active role in such a significant anniversary, committing to providing special support, alongside CODIS, for the events planned to mark the centenary.
To understand the origins of the International Sella River Descent, we must go back to 1929, when Dionisio de la Huerta decided to go on a canoe trip down the River Piloña, from Coya to Infiesto, with a group of friends. Building on the experience of that adventure, Dionisio tried to persuade his friends Alfonso Argüelles and Manés Fernández to join him in paddling down the Sella from Arriondas. That adventure sowed the seeds of the current Sella River Descent.
The event grew in popularity, with the first competitive edition taking place in 1932. The Sella River Descent took on an international character in 1951, when, for the first time in its history, it featured foreign competitors among the registered athletes.
The year 1960 marks a milestone in the history of the Descent, as it was in that year that the Spanish Canoeing Federation was founded, thereby securing the future of ‘the Canoe Festival’. Today, it is considered one of the most important events in the world on the international river-descent scene, and has been designated a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 1980.
