Álava approves the guidelines for promising athletes and opens the application period

The Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA) publishes on October 5, 2026, in issue number 114, the correction of errors for announcement 2026-02750, which nullifies and entirely replaces the text of Foral Decree 32/2026, of September 22, from the Foral Government Council. The regulation approves the regulatory bases for the designation of promising athletes of Álava and its call for 2026, with the appointment taking effect between January 1 and December 31, 2027. The application period opens on October 6 and closes on October 24, 2026, both dates inclusive.

A correction that replaces the previous announcement

The original announcement (2026-02750) had been published in BOTHA issue number 112, of September 30, 2026. Having detected errors in its text, the Foral Deputation of Álava nullifies it and replaces it with the corrected and definitive text, signed in Vitoria-Gasteiz on October 2, 2026, by the General Deputy Ramiro González Vicente, the Foral Deputy for Culture and Sport Ana Maria del Val Sancho, and the Director of Sport Juan José Rojo Bazán.

The decree is issued by the Department of Culture and Sport under article 7 b) 6 of Law 27/1983, of November 25, and article 4 f) of Law 2/2023, of March 30, on physical activity and sport of the Basque Country, which assigns the foral bodies the technical assistance and economic aid for promising athletes. Foral Regulation 11/2016, of October 19, on Subsidies of the Historical Territory of Álava, requires the approval of the bases prior to the granting of aid. The new regulation repeals Foral Decree 34/2025, of September 30, and seeks common criteria with the rest of the foral bodies and the Basque Government.

Requirements and sporting merits

Those who meet, among others, the following conditions may be designated as promising athletes:

• Hold a valid license issued by a Basque sports federation.
• Have been continuously registered as a resident in a municipality of Álava or in the enclave of Treviño since October 1, 2025.
• Have obtained a sporting merit listed in Annex II between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
• Have been born between the years 2003 and 2011; exceptionally, those born in 2012 and later if they prove merit in a higher category, an Olympic discipline, a favorable report from the Álava federation, and foral authorization.

Excluded are persons with final sanctions for doping or for very serious infractions of sporting discipline, those declared as high-level or high-performance athletes, and those who breached previous bases or were sanctioned according to Title IV of Foral Regulation 11/2016.

Applications, evaluation, and resolution

Applications may be submitted by Alavese sports federations, clubs or associations with their registered office in Álava, the athletes themselves, and the fathers, mothers, or legal representatives of minors. Entities are required to use the electronic means via the electronic office of the Provincial Council of Álava; individuals may also do so in person at the General Registry.

Proposals will be evaluated by a valuation commission composed of the head of the Sports Directorate, the head of the Sports Service, a technician from the same service, and a person from the Technical Secretariat of Culture and Sports, who will act as secretary with a voice but without a vote. The resolution corresponds to the department competent in sports matters and will be published in the BOTHA; the maximum period for resolution and notification is three months from the day following the closing of applications.

Benefits, obligations, and revocation

Designated individuals may access support plans developed by the Provincial Council of Álava, the Kirolaraba Fundazioa Foundation, or other public or private organizations. In exchange, they assume commitments during the term of the designation:

• Allow the use of their image by the Provincial Council of Álava without remuneration, for its own media.
• Attend promotional activities when required.
• Provide information about their sporting career and participate in competency improvement activities.

The designation may be revoked for breach of obligations, abandonment of sporting practice, failure to remain in a Basque club or transferring the license to another community, or upon appointment as a high-level or high-performance athlete.

The call for applications organizes provincial support for the Alavese youth system and establishes for the first time a common framework with other Basque institutions; therefore, federations and clubs in Álava have barely three weeks to gather federative certificates, licenses, and competition records for their candidates.

Source: Official Gazette of the Historical Territory of Álava (BOTHA), no. 114, of October 5, 2026, section I, page 1 (official reference: 2026-02842).