Freed Chilean miners swamped by sport invites
After spending gruelling 69 days and 8 hours trapped 2,000 feet underground, the freed Chilean miners are being swamped with invites to visit top European and Latin American football teams, and even take part in the New York City Marathon.
The miners were also invited by Real Madrid Club de Futbol president Florentino Perez to attend a game at Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Meanwhile, a similar event is being organized by Manchester United.
"Right now, the first thing to do is to allow a prudent amount of time to go by so that they can recuperate from what they have lived through and later it will be a matter of fixing a date so that they can assist a match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium,"
said a spokesman for Real Madrid.
When New York City Marathon organizers and officials heard that Edison Pena, one of the trapped miners, jogged regularly in the unblocked tunnels, they decided to invite him to participate in the Marathon, which is set to take place next month.
"His using running as a tool to help him through that incredible challenge - I think every runner hopes they could and would do it," said the president of the New York Road Runners, Mary Wittenberg. "It takes extraordinary fortitude to have the strength
to venture out in a situation like that."
Manchester United legend Bobby Charlton, whose father is a miner, sent a recorded message to the miners inviting them to Old Trafford.
Diego Maradone, a former Argentina coach, sent a message saying the miners' emancipation "was proof that miracles exist and you are one of them." Boca Juniors coach Claudio Borghi said he would “love to share a cup of tea with the men.”
One of the trapped miners, Franklin Lobos, once played professional football and celebrated his release by signifying his football skills. Another of the men, Omar Reygadas, waved a banner of the Colo Colo football team, despite his weakness.
Perez sent 33 shirts, signed by the Madrid team, to the miners, with the words "Have strength, miners."
"Real Madrid wants not only to invite them to whatever match they choose at the Santiago Bernabeu, but also to offer them a tribute, our affection and the recognition from our fans they deserve," said Perez of the act. "For us it will be an honor to be able
to receive them to celebrate their triumph of life."
Perez said he had also sent a photo album with photographs of the Real Madrid players signing the shirts that were sent to the miners, and a personal invitation to the Bernabeu Stadium.
Upon hearing that the miners had been found, Barcelona and Spain striker David Villa sent his support and two signed team shirts saying, "Miners, keep your spirits up." Villa was born into a family of miners in the Spanish region of Asturias.
On Thursday, Villa made a statement on Barcelona's website.
"I have followed the rescue like everyone else, but you have a different perspective when you have experienced this world," said Villa on the website. "You have a greater appreciation of what is involved and it brings back many memories of previous eras.
In this case we are all happy because all the miners are safe and healthy.”
"All of us at Barcelona and in Spanish football are proud and pleased that you have survived and are back on the surface again."
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