TENNIS ace Rafael Nadal has been awarded the Guardia Civil Silver Medal for Merit after helping promote a scheme to source and bring together undergraduates with knowledge and talent in online security.
The National Inter-University Cyberspace Challenges League was created in summer to mark the 175th anniversary of the Guardia Civil, Spain's nationwide military-trained police force, and seeks to get students involved in online safety problem-solving using their technical, legal and communication skills and knowledge.
Working either as individuals or as a team, linking students and training centres together with the cyber-security industry, lending visibility to these undergraduates' talent and giving them awards for merit, the Guardia Civil scheme aims to harness the best brains possible ahead of future challenges in online safety, and to cut down on the number of those who move abroad for work rather than benefiting Spain with their abilities.
Designed as a national competition with a qualifying round, and a final for the best 20 teams or individuals from the first round, the winner and those placed on the last day – November 16 – received study grants, salaried training placements in top cyber-security companies, and educational material.
Rafa Nadal – currently ATP world number one – recorded and starred in an advert on behalf of the National Cyberleague urging students to take part in the challenge.
He received no pay or other benefits from creating the commercial, but merely did it because he believed in the event.
Thanks to Rafa's being the face of the campaign, over 200,000 people tuned in and led to more than 1,000 young adults taking part in the challenge.
The Mallorca-born sporting hero was due to receive his Silver Medal for Merit on October 11, when the Guardia Civil celebrates its patron saint's day, but due to his match commitments – and possibly because he had a lot to do off the court in preparation for his wedding eight days later – Nadal was unable to attend.
He received it in a gala last night (Friday), and described it as 'a real honour'.
Rafa expressed his appreciation of the 'great work' the Guardia Civil carries out 'every day', and assured them that the general public, himself included, 'felt safer and better accompanied' when they saw the force out on the streets.
SPAIN'S last-minute win against England in the 2024 UEFA Euros comes on the 60th anniversary of the country's first-ever title in the much-followed competition – and has broken numerous records, too.
A HOLLYWOOD legend joining folk-dancers from Asturias and showing off her fancy footwork in the street is not a scene your average Oviedo resident witnesses during his or her weekly shop. Even though their northern...
