“Tinajo para Todos” Becomes Province’s First Inclusive Canarian Wrestling Team

The Cabildo has officially launched “Tinajo para Todos” (Tinajo for Everyone), making it the first inclusive Canarian wrestling team in the province of Las Palmas and only the second of its kind in the Canary Islands.

Presented on Tuesday, the initiative aims to make the traditional sport accessible to everyone, regardless of ability, while promoting inclusion through one of the islands’ most cherished cultural traditions.

The Cabildo’s Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion described the project as a landmark step, saying it demonstrates how sport can break down barriers and challenge prejudice. Officials said initiatives such as Tinajo para Todos are essential to building a more inclusive community where participation in sport is a right enjoyed by all.

The new team will begin training immediately and is expected to serve as a model for inclusive sport across the region. Individuals, families, groups and volunteers interested in taking part can obtain more information through the Tinajo wrestling club or the Cabildo’s Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion.

Tinajo wrestling club president Yurena Cubas said the project’s name reflects its philosophy of having “no conditions, no barriers.” She described becoming the first inclusive wrestling club in Las Palmas province as a source of pride, adding that it reflects the solidarity that has long been part of the local community.

Cubas said the club hopes the team will provide an open environment where the values of effort, friendship and teamwork that define Canarian wrestling will help empower participants and demonstrate that barriers can be overcome together.

Cabildo president Oswaldo Betancort highlighted the wider social importance of the initiative, describing Canarian wrestling as a historic symbol of respect and fairness that can also serve as a powerful vehicle for inclusion. He said the project shows how traditional sport can create shared spaces where barriers disappear in favour of a more just and equitable society.

Dulce María Gutiérrez, Director General for Disability Affairs in the Canary Islands Government, praised the initiative as an innovative project with significance across the archipelago. She said supporting programmes such as Tinajo para Todos represents an important step toward genuine equality while showing that the islands’ traditions can lead the way in promoting inclusion.

Marci Acuña, Lanzarote’s Councillor for Social Welfare and Inclusion, said the initiative demonstrates how long-standing traditions can become powerful tools for social change. He added that inclusion should be measured through practical actions rather than simply being viewed as an abstract concept, with the values of Canarian wrestling helping to challenge stereotypes and create new opportunities for participation.