Study and Play scholarships awarded, combining sport and study in the USA

The Rafa Nadal Foundation and I-Con Sports have held a ceremony in Barcelona to award Study and Play scholarships, through which 11 young Spanish athletes will attend North American universities next year where they will have the opportunity to combine studies with their sporting careers.

Thanks to the Study and Play program, scholarships to the value of $424,300 have been obtained, with additional assistance provided by the Rafa Nadal Foundation to the sum of $59,000. The 11 new scholarship recipients will join the 10 athletes currently studying at universities in the United States under the umbrella of the scheme.

The award ceremony, which took place at the Real Club de Tenis Barcelona, was attended by the beneficiaries and their families, as well as María Francisca Perelló, Director of Projects at the Rafa Nadal Foundation, and Marc Becker, Director of I-Con Sports, a Spanish company dedicated to integrating athletes in American universities.

“Our goal is ensure that young athletes do not feel the need to choose between continuing their academic studies or continuing to train and compete at a high performance level”, said Maria Francisca Perelló.