Sports federations, with 4.3 million athletes, launch the challenge 'One Billion Hours' to reduce screen time. The V CUFADE Congress will be held in Seville on 17 and 18 September.
The Confederation of Unions of Autonomous Sports Federations of Spain (CUFADE) and the Andalusian Confederation of Sports Federations (CAFD) have chosen Seville to present their plan against digital sedentarism. The V CUFADE Congress, which will take place at the Fundación Tres Culturas on 17 and 18 September, aims to make federated sports a real alternative to compulsive social media consumption.
The central objective of the meeting is the challenge 'One Billion Hours': to increase the current 800 million annual hours of federated sports practice to 1,000 million. This would mean reducing exposure to electronic devices by 200 million hours, according to the organisers.
The confederation brings together more than 4.3 million athletes, nearly 79,000 clubs, and over 1,200 federative entities across Spain. In Andalusia, the CAFD represents thousands of athletes and clubs, giving the initiative a level of social penetration that is hard to match.
The congress's slogan is 'Health Squared', a concept that emphasises the dual benefit of exercise: not only physical but also mental. The organisers argue that physical activity helps manage failure, boosts self-esteem, and rebuilds in-person community ties at a time of increasing digital isolation.
Gerard Esteva, president of CUFADE, has stated that the goal is to position physical activity as the best tool to counter smartphone dependency. In the same vein, Alfonso Escribano, president of the CAFD, has taken on the social responsibility of the sports community to promote this change in habits.
Congress Programme
The first day, 17 September, will be dedicated to internal work among executives. Funding avenues, management models, data usage, and success stories will be discussed. Among the prominent speakers is former national football coach Vicente del Bosque, and motivational speaker José Luis Izquierdo, known as 'El Mago More', will also participate.
The second day, 18 September, will be open to the general public. Expert profiles like psychologist Patricia Ramírez, alongside athletes and medical professionals, will participate in interactive round tables. The event aims to be a strategic turning point for sports federations.
For the people of Andalusia, and especially those from Seville, the congress represents an opportunity to learn firsthand about the initiatives that will be launched to promote grassroots sports and combat digital sedentarism. The Fundación Tres Culturas, the venue for the event, will host representatives from across the country.
Andalusian sports federations are already working on adapting the plan at the regional level. Concrete measures for the province of Seville, such as youth recruitment programmes and awareness campaigns in clubs, are expected to be announced during the congress.
The challenge of reaching one billion hours is no small feat. According to CUFADE data, every hour of federated sport reduces one hour of screen time, so the impact on public health could be significant. The organisers are confident in the reach of sports entities to reach every corner.
The congress will be held in the morning and afternoon. Registrations for the open day on 18 September can be made through the CAFD website. Access is free until capacity is reached.
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