Andbank and the Andorran Swimming Federation renew their collaboration for two more years

Andorra, 11 March, 2020.

Andbank and the Andorran Swimming Federation (FAN) have today announced the renewal of the collaboration agreement signed in 2018 by both entities for two more years during a press conference held at the bank’s headquarters in Escaldes-Engordany.

The ceremony was attended by Joan Clotet, Vice President of the FAN, respectively, Xavier Torrallardona, Technical Director of Swimming and Natàlia Meca, Technical Director or Artistic Swimming, as well as Josep M. Cabanes, Vice General Director of the state bank, representing Andbank.

“The FAN has done a magnificent job during the past two seasons and at Andbank we want to keep backing this team of sportsmen and women, who push themselves and continue to grow, competition by competition”, said Josep M. Cabanes of Andbank.

For his part, Joan Clotet highlighted that “the renewal of the collaboration agreement with Andbank is fundamental for the FAN in a year as important as 2020, with the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Swimming European Championships taking place in Budapest in May”, as well as “the preparation of our swimmers for the Games of the Small States of Europe, taking place in Andorra in 2021”.

Clotet went on to reiterate the Federation’s commitment to “guide our swimmers in order to form a strong and winning team to represent Andorra at an international level” and so, “with Hocine Haciane joining as coach and our big signing, Xavier Torrallardona, we have succeeded in assembling an excellent technical team”.

Meanwhile, Clotet commented on his ongoing contact with the FINA regarding covid-19, to find out what will be the next steps in this regard, and stated that there will probably be a three-month moratorium on all international competitions, although this is yet to be confirmed. Regarding national competitions, and if there is no government notice to the contrary, they will remain the same for the time being.

During the press conference, a summary was also given of the 2019-2020 season so far, marked by a series of successes for Andorran swimmers, such as the recent European Championships in Glasgow, in which the Andorran relay team set the Andorran record.

Xavier Torrallardona, Technical Director of the FAN from 2018 and champion of Spain in the 1,500 metres freestyle on seven occasions during career, said that “the sportswomen and men of the Principality are in great shape and we are working hard to close a really good season and come out strongly with a winning mentality in the Games of the Small States of Europe, taking place in Andorra in 2021”.

He also said that “we are at midway stage of the competitions”, and stated that “the 3 most important international competitions now are the COMEN, which will be held in Greece, and the Junior and Senior European Championships, which will be held in Budapest. Finally he said that “as with all sports, we need to strive and work hard to achieve sporting excellence”.

In addition, the Federation is in contact with the COA to see if any of the swimmers can participate, but we still need to wait and see how the three candidates who have the best chance develop, Nàdia, Mònica and Bernad.

Finally, Natalia Meca, Technical Director of Synchronised Swimming of the FAN, announced the participation of the team in two international competitions, in the Junior category, the Swiss Open, which will be held at the beginning of May and in which the 16 and 17-year old girls will participate with two technical duets; and the next, which will be in France, in the children’s category, with the participation of freestyle routine and figures.

As well as its support of the FAN, Andbank maintains a strong commitment to Andorran sport. The entity works closely, among others, with the Andorran Olympic Committee (COA), the cross-country skiing teams of the Andorran Ski Federation (FAE) and the popular cycling event, the Purito Andorra.