ROSE HALL, St James --The much-anticipated Real Madrid Football School for Social Integration in Montego Bay was officially launched here yesterday, highlighted by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Rose Hall football field near the Hilton Hotel, attended by former Spain and Real Madrid striker Emilio Butragueno.

Other dignitaries in attendance were Water and Housing Minister Horace Chang, Montego Bay mayor Charles Sinclair, and a large contingent of the executive board of the Spanish Jamaica Foundation, headed by Spanish ambassador to Jamaica, Jesus Silva and JFF president captain Horace Burrell.

The programme, which will be overseen by former Reggae Boy goalkeeper Aaron Lawrence, will target children between the ages of seven and 11, drawn from inner-city St James communities, and will provide sports education, with a strong focus on social integration.

"Real Madrid defines this idea as educating young people through the values of sports," noted a press release from the Spanish-Jamaican Foundation.

Meanwhile, Silva expressed his pleasure that the first phase of the football academy kicked off yesterday.

"It's very important for the Spanish-Jamaica Foundation that this project is finally starting its first phase. We are very grateful to the Real Madrid Foundation represented by Mr Butragueno, that they have supported this endeavour. The important thing is that something that Real Madrid is teaching us we want to educate young people in the value of sports," Silva expressed.

He further expressed his gratitude to the Rollins Foundation for providing the temporary site for the first phase of the project, noting that the permanent home will be ready next year on lands provided by the Rollins Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Spanish striker, who represented Real Madrid Football School for Social Integration, was also pleased that the first phase of the project got underway yesterday.

"What we want to do is to help young people to become human beings with a specific value, that is the bottom line. We haven't come here to look for a new Cristiano Ronaldo, but the big deal is to help to have a relationship with Jamaica and try to help young people . Through football we can help them," Butragueno said.

He explained that that the Real Madrid Football School for Social Integration, which has similar projects in 15 other countries, will now maintain direct contact with the project in Jamaica.

Today the inauguration ceremony of the signing of the agreement between the Real Madrid Foundation, Spanish-Jamaica Foundation and Rose Hall Development will be held in Kingston, at which time world double sprint record holder Usain Bolt will be conferred with the Diploma as Goodwill Ambassador by Butragueno.

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