The tournament celebrates its 39th edition, reinforcing its idea of a sporting "family".
To speak of futsal in Fraga and the Bajo/Baix Cinca region is to speak of the legacy of Jose María Larroya Albá . A driving force behind this sport in our area, he paved the way that his children Nacho and Berta continue today through the 24-hour Futsal tournament.
This tournament, probably the longest-running of its kind in Aragon, is a highly anticipated event for futsal fans every year. Several generations have played futsal in the 24 Hours of Fraga, and many teams come together for this event each year.
Registration for the 2024 edition sold out in just one hour, bringing together nearly 600 players and 65 teams . Nacho and Berta had to perform some serious juggling to expand the available spots and include all the teams. This year there are some new features, including more women's teams in a new category and pre-Benjamin teams also competing.
What hurts the organizers the most is having to turn teams away , especially children. But, although they would love to accommodate all the competitors, there isn't enough space and the team is small. The tournament is played on three courts: two at the Sotet Pavilion and one at the Cortes de Aragón. They aren't considering extending the tournament to two weekends or adding other locations in the city because, for this pair of siblings, the most important aspect of the tournament is the personal attention and the legacy their father left them. They take care of every detail, want to be involved in every match, and ensure that nothing goes wrong , both on the court and in everything else that makes up this weekend dedicated to futsal.
This year, improvements have been implemented in the competition regulations to promote fair play during matches. The aim is always to foster sportsmanship and ensure that players and spectators enjoy futsal in a healthy environment.
The warmth and affection with which they handle every aspect of this competition is amplified by their group of collaborators . Many, almost all, have been involved for years. " It would undoubtedly be impossible to hold this tournament without all of our collaborators ," Nacho Larroya remarked at the presentation. Furthermore, this spirit is what transforms local futsal into a large sporting family. They know the teams, the players; some started as children and are now veterans, while others have passed the torch to their own children.
They try to give back to the town as much as they can , as a gesture of gratitude for the loyalty and affection shown to the 24 Hours of Fraga. The prizes are vouchers for local restaurants and shops. Nearly 140 businesses from the Bajo/Baix Cinca region collaborate with the tournament. They also make a donation to the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC). Approximately 95% of the teams are from Fraga. These are just some of the facts that demonstrate the affection and family-like nature of this project . They don't close the door to anyone; if a team from Lleida or anywhere else registers, they are always welcome. But, as the two Larroya brothers say, " We really like this concept of closeness and family. It's very important to us because it's the legacy our father left us , and we want to keep it that way ."
At the presentation, the organizers expressed their gratitude to the Fraga City Council and the Department of Sports for their collaboration and support over the years. David Casanova , the councilor for the area, spoke about the excitement this tournament generates in the city and the hospitality of Fraga, which is reflected in events like this, where participants and visitors receive the comforts they deserve, including fruit and excellent service. This has become a common denominator and a hallmark of Fraga thanks to the tournaments and competitions held throughout the year in the capital of the Bajo/Baix Cinca region.
The great festival of Fraga futsal will be held on June 29 and 30 in the Cortes de Aragón and Sotet pavilions.
