Irakurle-on/a and Athletic Reading Club

READING AS AN ATHLETIC VALUE

Actions to promote reading

In recent years, and in parallel to the literature and football festival, Letters and football, the Foundation has launched several actions to promote reading.

Currently, we maintain three: an annual publication that is distributed free of charge in educational centres and partner clubs, a reading promotion campaign called irakurLE-ON(A) and a series of reading clubs with male and female players called Athletic Reading Club.

Discover why 

+ 100.000

BOOKS DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE

+ 70.000

POSTERS PROMOTING READING AND DOZENS OF READING CLUBS.

The idea is to present Athletic Club to the community as an entity that looks after the education of young people beyond sports, both our players and our supporters.

Discover how 

In other words, we aim to position ourselves as allies in the educational process of young people. In this sense, we have significant influence, reaching areas where institutions do not, since young people view Athletic Club as an admired entity and its players as role models.

Finally, the publications, campaigns and reading clubs allow us to uphold the club´s own values, as shown in the nature of the publications or the fact that the reading clubs are held in educational centres and also with groups at risk of exclusion. There is also an element of brand building, promoting a type of player different from the contemporary footballer, especially in terms of their commitment to society.

Project partially financed by:

As far as books are concerned, these are custom-made texts, of which we publish around 8,000 copies, distributed free of charge in schools and affiliated clubs

In recent years, we have published books such as those by Ainhoa Tirapu, Oscar de Marcos, the Genuine player Igor Porset or ‘Gogoaren Indarra’ or ‘Makatza’, a story written by Andoni Egaña that recreates the childhood of Iribar in his native town, Zarautz.

Discover the histories 

Along with the books, posters of the irakurLE-ON(A) campaign are also sent out, in which reading is promoted as a habit that is part of the idolised image young people have of football players. The play on words in both Basque and Spanish, in which the word LEON(A) emerges, reinforces this message.

As for the Athletic Reading Club, from time to time, a call is opened in which any fan can suggest a book to an Athletic Club player who voluntarily participates. Among the suggestions, the player selects one book, which she/he commits to reading within a month. Afterwards, we organise a book club meeting with the player and other readers, either in an educational centre or in San Mamés. In recent years, many players have been involved in this experience.

Get to know Igor's story

Discover how sport transforms lives. Igor shares his story firsthand. Don’t miss out on writing yours!

I want to participate 