researcher from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) the highest concentration of microplastics in Catalonia This black spot on the Catalan coast was already well known to the Tecnatox research group at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) which for years has been studying the presence of microplastics in the environment and their effects on health they have analysed the 580 kilometres of the Catalan coast from Cap de Creus to Vinaròs and the data are clear: this beach has up to 2,000 microplastics per kilogram of sand a figure that almost doubles that of the second beach on the list "What surprised us was to see that the beaches of Barcelona have a lower concentration of microplastics than other points further south such as between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú or a large part of the coast of Tarragona," said Joaquim Rovira a researcher at the URV's Department of Basic Medical Sciences The study is the most exhaustive one to be carried out on the coast of Catalonia and analysed seventy samples from around fifty beaches which provided a very accurate picture of the state of microplastics contamination along the coastline and identified the most affected areas The samples were collected from the intertidal fringe which is the area of wet sand between the highest point reached by the waves and the water level The microplastics found were classified according to their size and chemical composition; that is those microplastics identifiable to the naked eye (up to 5 millimetres) were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene and were either industrial pellets or the result of the degradation of everyday objects such as plastic bottles came from textile fibres made from polyester and polyamide which are released into the environment through the process of washing clothing Much of the pollution on the beach at La Pineda which took first place in the classification but the most alarming figure (more than 60%) represented the quantity of textile fibres found These owe their presence to the fact that they are not retained by washing machine filters and therefore reach the sea through wastewater but the location of the underwater wastewater outlets between the Port of Tarragona and the cape of Salou prevents this from happening" A significant concentration of microplastics was also found washed down the river at the mouth of the River Ebre The Miracle and Arrabassada beaches in Tarragona also registered a high number of pollutants (more than 700 and more than 600 "We attribute this figure to the microplastics that reach the sea via the River Llobregat and which are carried along by the currents to the southern beaches" explained the researcher The research has also shown how microplastics are distributed according to the characteristics of the sand "On the beaches of the Costa Brava we found lower levels of microplastics We attribute this to the fact that the sand is coarser and that it does not retain as many microplastics as fine sand beaches" a researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering The research team pointed out that the results were to some extent to be expected due to the large volume of plastic production and because plastic does not easily biodegrade the poor management of waste and uncontrolled dumping forming the micro and nanoplastics that we find everywhere" We can confidently say that plastics are probably the most abundant xenobiotic pollutants on Earth," they warn One benefit to have come from study by the Tecnatox team is that they have demonstrated the viability of a technique that until now had never been used to collect microplastic samples The technique was found to be reliable and cheaper and uses fluorescence microscopy to detect the microplastics The technique irradiates the filters with a specific wavelength that causes the small plastic fragments to glow thus making it faster and easier to detect them one subset was analysed using this new method and the other using the traditional system based on spectroscopy it was found that using fluorescence microscopy is a good initial method for identifying the most contaminated areas 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117761 Detection of microplastic hotspots in beach sand for national surveys using fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy: Case study on the Catalan coast Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system. Copyright © 2025 by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) A new study by the research group Technatox from the University Rovira i Virgili (URV) has revealed that the beach in the southern Catalan town of Pineda de Vila-seca contains the highest concentration of microplastics. Techatox analyzed fifty beaches along 580 kilometers of the Catalan coastline, from Cap de Creus in the north to Vinaròs in the northern part of Spain’s Valencian region. At La Pineda beach, researchers found 2,000 pieces of microplastic per kilogram of sand, twice as many as the second most contaminated beach, located in the Fangar Bay, part of the southern Ebre Delta. Most of the microplastics found at Pineda de Vila-seca were plastic pellets, often originating from the petrochemical industry. More alarmingly, over 60% of the detected microplastics came from textile fibers, primarily polyester. These fibers pass through washing machine filters before eventually reaching the sea through wastewater. According to Joaquim Rovira, researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences at URV, plastic pellets “should disperse into the sea, but the positioning of the underwater outfalls between the Port of Tarragona and Cape Salou prevents it from doing so.” A significant concentration of microplastics was also found at the Fangar Bay at the mouth of the Ebre Delta. There, researchers found 1,100 pieces per kilogram of sand, while the beaches Miracle and Arrabassada on the Tarragona coast recorded over 700 and 600 microplastics per kilogram, respectively. Vallcarca beach, located between Castelldefels and Sitges, followed behind. “We attribute this to the microplastics that reach the sea through the Llobregat River and are transported southward by ocean currents,” says Rovira. In contrast, the findings from Barcelona’s beaches took the researchers by surprise. “What surprised us the most has been seeing that the beaches of Barcelona, the most populated city in Catalonia, have less concentrations of microplastics than other more southern coasts between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú and a big part of the Tarragona coast,” explains Rovira. Beaches on the northern Catalan Costa Brava had the lowest levels of microplastic pollution, according to the study. “We attribute this to the coarser sand, which doesn’t retain as many microplastics as beaches with finer sand,” said Nora Expósito, a researcher at the Department of Chemical Engineering, who also took part in the study. This study is the first comprehensive study of microplastic pollution along the Catalan coastline. In total, 70 locations were analyzed, with researchers collecting samples from the intertidal zone, the area of wet sand between the highest wave reach and the current waterline. They analyzed the chemical composition and size of the microplastics, with the larger ones measuring up to 5 millimeters and primarily composed of polyethylene and polypropylene, often originating from degraded plastic bottles or industrial pellets. The smaller particles measured less than 0.5 millimeters and were primarily textile fibers such as polyester and polyamide, commonly released when washing clothes. All in all, the researchers were not surprised by the findings, given the large amount of plastic produced and its low biodegradability. “We have found microplastics inland, in marine waters, wastewater, drinking water, soil and sediments, in mollusks, and even in human feces,” added researchers Ester Marí and Jordi Serra from the University of Barcelona, who also participated in the study. Get the day's biggest stories right to your phone This central element divides the dwelling into two open areas on each floor offering flexibility for the family’s needs images © José Hevia In an effort by the design team at NUA Arquitectures to contrast the dense urban fabric the Sandra & Mario House takes shape with a light and airy volume particularly on the southwest-facing rear facade draw in natural light and provide cross-ventilation A double-height space enhances the sense of openness and spatial quality within the home The architects sought to balance modernity with the site’s history and lime mortar were chosen for their local character and low environmental impact The house is designed to be energy-efficient utilizing passive systems for climate control The rear facade features solar protection blinds to regulate sunlight and maintain comfort throughout the year Sandra & Mario House is a modern interpretation of the traditional terraced houses of Vila-seca While NUA Arquitectures designs the interiors of its Sandra & Mario House with a focus on light and openness the exterior facade engages with the surrounding streetscape Aligned with the home’s overall design the rear facade overlooking the southwest patio is a large expanse of glass This maximizes natural light intake during winter while retractable shades offer protection from the sun in warmer months the street-facing northeast facade presents a more solid appearance incorporating a mix of open and closed elements This design approach seeks to complement the architectural style of its neighbors the home creates a visual dialogue with the traditional terraced houses of Vila-seca acknowledging its role within the historic urban fabric.  a double-height space enhances the sense of openness of the sunlit interiors solar protection blinds along the rear facade regulate sunlight and maintain comfort all year the house is designed to be energy-efficient with passive systems for climate control the exterior facade creates a visual dialogue with the traditional terraced houses of Vila-seca a large glazed capture space allows the entire house to receive the maximum possible light in winter project title: Casa Sandra y Mario (Sandra and Mario House) architecture: NUA Arquitectures | @nuaarquitectures photography: © José Hevia Ferran Tiñena architect of record: Maria Escoda Albert Vilà collaborator: Manu Prieto structure: Albert Pujol construction: Baser obres i interiors structure design: Manuel Marin woodworks: Fusteria Jaume Olivé furniture: DM Espai Fusta AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style Andrés Vilaseca is out of the November Internationals following surgery cartilage cleaning and stem cell injections in both knees Unión Argentina de Rugby Argentina (UAR) medic Unión de Rugby del Uruguay (URU) physiotherapist Santiago “Colo” Ramirez was present at the surgery Vilaseca faces a recovery period of 5 to 6 months. It will mean an opportunity for another player to play inside center for Uruguay in November. Vilaseca has been a mainstay for his country. Not only is he captain but he has 82 caps Los Teros will play three test matches in Europe in November. The matches will be part of the November 2024 Internationals. Los Teros will be up against familiar opposition from recent years. The test matches will see the South Americans facing Spain, Japan and Romania. The match against Japan will be played in France Leindekar is now expected to be named captain for Uruguay’s November Internationals against Spain Leindekar plays for Oyonnax in the French Pro D2. Oyonnax is located 150KM north of Chambéry where Uruguay will face Japan on November 16 Tags World Rugby has finalized referee appointments for the July 2025 Internationals The Pineda beach in Vila-seca (Tarragona) has by far the highest number of microplastics in Catalonia, according to a study led by experts from the University of Barcelona and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin The team has analysed the 580 kilometres of Catalan coastline — from Cap de Creus to Vinaròs — and the data are clear: this beach accumulates up to 2,000 microplastics per kilogram of sand a figure that is almost double that of the second on the list what strikes the most is that “the beaches of Barcelona have lower concentrations of microplastics than other points further south between Castelldefels and Vilanova i la Geltrú or a large part of the coast of Tarragona” a researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and the TecnATox research group at Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) samples were collected from the intertidal fringe — more than one sample was taken at the longest beaches — which is the area of wet sand between the point where the highest wave reaches the water level The size and chemical composition of the microplastics found were also analysed according to their dimensions: large microplastics were mainly polyethylene and polypropylene derived especially from the degradation of everyday objects such as plastic bottles or well-known industrial pellets are mainly found in textile fibres such as polyester and polyamide from laundry since plastics are the most versatile and most abundantly manufactured materials after some building materials (cement It should also be added that most plastics are persistent and not easily biodegradable and when they are spread in the environment (through use forming micro- and nanoplastics that are found everywhere” explain experts Esther Marí and Jordi Sierra from the UB’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences Other studies have revealed that they are even present in lung tissue some organs and even in the brain and human placentas We dare say that plastics are probably the most abundant xenobiotic pollutants on Earth” an accumulation of plastic pellets — mainly from the petrochemical industry — was found but the most alarming volume (more than 60%) is textile fibres which are not retained by the washing machine filters and reach the sea through the sewage “At this point they should be dispersed in the water but the location of the submarine outfalls between the port of Tarragona and the cape of Salou prevents their dispersion” A significant concentration of microplastics was also found at the mouth of the Ebro River also recorded a high number of pollutants (more than 700 and more than 600 “We attribute this to the microplastics that reach the sea via the Llobregat River and travel to the southern beaches carried by the currents” The study also shows how microplastics are distributed according to the characteristics of the sand “On the Costa Brava beaches we detected less accumulation We attribute this to the fact that the sand is coarser and it does not retain as many microplastics as fine sand beaches” a researcher in the URV’s Department of Chemical Engineering The study has also served to implement a technique that has not been used for sample collection until now but which has proven to be reliable and more economical: the detection of microplastics by fluorescence This system allows filters to be irradiated with a specific wavelength that makes the small plastic fragments glow which facilitates faster and more visual detection Expósito, Nora; Sierra, Jordi; Martí, Esther; Folch, Jaume; Ratola, Nuno; Schuhmacher, Marta; Rovira, Joaquim. “Detection of microplastic hotspots in beach sand for national surveys using fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy: Case study on the Catalan coast”.  Marine Pollution Bulletin, March 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.117761. The tramway project in Camp de Tarragona between Cambrils and Vila-seca Universitat will enter service in 2028 as the Catalan government announced over the weekend On Sunday, Catalan president Salvador Illa announced that the executive will launch the public tender this week, confirming what the cabinet had already announced in October. The tender will also include buying seven convoys and investing €245 million in the first phase of the project, known as TramCamp. "The Camp de Tarragona does not need problems, but projects" such as the TramCamp, which is a "vital project for the territory's prosperity," Illa said during a press conference in Cambrils. Trains will be 40-meter in length and have a minimum capacity of 210 passengers. The first trains are expected to be in service during the first six months of 2028, a two-year delay than first announced during the previous term led by pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, which was expected by 2026. The line will be 14 kilometers long and connect 14 stations, one of which will be the Port Aventura amusement park, which will be connected to Rodalies commuter trains. Two other stations, Cambrils Nord and Vila-seca, will also be connected to the Rodalies. The executive will tender the rest of the line during the construction of the first part of the TramCamp, so by the end of 2025, all the first phases will be either on public tender or under construction. The second phase aims to connect Reus and Tarragona, creating a 46-kilometer network with 47 stations, including one connecting Reus airport. v1.1.0. Copyright © 2025. Powered by EBANTIC. All rights reserved. Text description provided by the architects. The original Municipal Sports Pavilion, located within the Vila-Seca Educational-Sports Campus, was built in 1986 and during all these years had only been done small improvement interventions. Because of the Mediterranean Games 2018 in Tarragona, the possibility of using the building as a space to host the Greco-Roman wrestling makes necessary an internal reform. © José HeviaAt the constructive level, the materials and all the constructive resources used have been minimized to the maximum, working basically with four materials in the whole reform: steel, glass, polycarbonate, and wood. The entire steel structure is a modular set of HEB140 profiles, both for pillars and beams. The covering of the outer rink maintains this modulation and the concept of a minimal structure with a set of FINK beams that cover the light of 25 meters.  © José HeviaThe metal sheets that make up the porches by their fret and thickness allow covering the lights without the placement of auxiliary profiles simplifying to the maximum their implementation and visual impact but with a micro-perforated sheet to improve the acoustic insulation the polycarbonate longitudinally closes the volume of the outer rink by filtering natural light and isolating it from solar radiation with vertical panels of 20mm and air cavity.  You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Volume 12 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.738463 Early intervention services (EIS) worked hard to continue serving children and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown This study aimed to determine families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the functioning of the early intervention (EI) model in Spain during the pandemic The study sample comprised two subsamples: 81 families of children attended at an EIS (72 mothers and 9 fathers) and 213 professionals recruited from EIS The survey was conducted online several weeks after the end of the strict lockdown in Spain Descriptive statistics of the questionnaire answered by families and professionals were compiled comparisons were made between the families’ and the professionals’ responses and the relationships with several sociodemographic variables were analyzed The results indicated that parents who cared for their children and were fully responsible for housework parents who had used telematic tools before the lockdown and younger professionals had a more positive perception of the EI model and the incorporation of family-centered practices (FCP) during the pandemic The results also showed statistically significant differences in some items between parents and professionals: for example professionals perceived more advantages than families during the lockdown quoting the greater participation of families in the intervention and a greater focus on families’ needs The data obtained from professionals suggested a more positive attitude toward FCP: however the results show that they continued to adopt a directive role in the intervention a position that is at odds with the tenets of FCP There is a clear need for more training if a paradigm shift to FCP is to be achieved Families’ and caregivers’ perceptions of telerehabilitation and their adherence to telerehabilitation programs The implications of this study with regard to guiding future telematic interventions and family support are also considered not all EIS in Spain apply a family-centered model in an attempt to ensure continuity of care Zoom and other online platforms and were thus able to enter the families’ natural contexts the situation of COVID-19 provided early intervention professionals with an opportunity to implement telerehabilitation strategies inside families’ everyday contexts the general aim of this study was to identify the changes in the intervention methodology used with families receiving EIS in Spain in the new scenario created by the COVID-19 pandemic More specific aims were: (a) to analyze the families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the intervention model received and implemented during the pandemic lockdown; (b) to explore the relation of certain sociodemographic variables and the families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the intervention model; (c) to identify any differences between families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the intervention model in this exceptional context Convenience sampling – a type of non-probabilistic sampling- was used to select participants who were recruited from several EIS in Spain Two inclusion criteria were applied: families had to have a child attended by an EIS at the time of receiving the survey and professionals had to have been working in the EIS for at least one year prior to the lockdown The participants were volunteers who met the inclusion criteria and responded to a request to take part (see section “Procedure”) The study sample comprised two subsamples: 81 families and 213 professionals (see Tables 1, 2) The subsample of families (parents) was composed of 72 mothers (88.9%) and 9 fathers (11.1%) The mothers had a mean age of 38.1 years (SD = 6.9) and the fathers of 39.9 years (SD = 14.9) Most parents were married or living with a partner (90.1%) Half of them had completed high school (46.9%) or had a university degree (39.5%) employed part-time (22.2%) or cared for their children and were fully responsible for housework (19.8%) 18.5% were from Castilla La Mancha and 2.5% from Andalusia Demographic characteristics of the family members who answered the survey and the child attended at an EIS (n = 81) Demographic characteristics of professionals (n = 213) with an age range from 7 to 68 months (M = 40.5 The degree of intellectual disability (ID) was mild (33 – 64%) in 64.2% moderate (−65 – 74%) in 25.9% and severe (> 75%) in 9.9% assessment of the percentage of disability is a standardized process carried out by a government agency the Valuation and Guidance Services for People with Disabilities A total of 41.3% of children received speech therapy 30% psychological support and 20% physiotherapy More than half (54.2%) received 60-min sessions at the EIS either once a week (37%) or every other week (24.7%) before the pandemic Regarding the format of the pre-pandemic sessions almost half of the family subsample stated that the professional attended exclusively to the child (49.4%) 23.5% stated that s/he involved the family and only 1.2% reported that s/he came to their home it tended to be the mother who took the child to the EIS (49.4% alone or 29.6% together with the father) Most families (64.2%) had no online contact before COVID-19 The subsample of professionals comprised 204 women (95.8%) and 9 men (4.2%) 35.1% psychologists and 21.2% speech therapists Most had over five years of experience working at an EIS (67.6%) Most (63%) worked in a team with a maximum of 15 members Most of the participating EIS were based in Catalonia (58.7%) Once the family or professional received the document via e-mail and clicked on the link they were given information about the nature and purpose of the survey on the first page they were taken to the sociodemographic questionnaire on the following page The second part of the survey asked about their perceptions of how the intervention methodology at the EIS had changed as a result of COVID-19 The family version of the Brief sociodemographic questionnaire compiled data on marital status and frequency of attention in EIS before lockdown The version for professionals compiled data on their field number of EIS professionals at their center The Questionnaire on EIS interventions in times of COVID-19 for families (Intervención en los CDIATs en tiempos de COVID-19 para familias) was developed ad hoc for this study The main objective was to evaluate families’ perceptions of the changes in the way professionals intervened with their children since the pandemic The Questionnaire on EIS interventions in times of COVID-19 for professionals (Intervención en los CDIATs en tiempos de COVID-19 para profesionales) also developed ad hoc for this study assessed professionals’ perceptions of changes in the methodology of intervention with families and children since the pandemic Both surveys were translated into Catalan for people from Catalonia and Valencia the items measured aspects related to the use of telematic means (video calls etc.) with the EIS professional as a result of the lockdown some questions explored whether interventions carried out through a video call allowed family members to talk in more detail about daily routines or about the child’s functioning at home (item 1) or participate more in the intervention (item 2) or whether the professional continued to decide what to work on with the child at home (item 3) In the version for professionals, these items measured, for example, whether the use of telematic means allowed them to learn more about the child’s natural context (item 1) and to focus on the needs of the entire family and not just the child (item 5), or asked about the need for further training to intervene in the natural context (item 14). Table 3 (families) and Table 4 (professionals) display all the items for both instruments Exploratory factor analysis and descriptive statistics for the questionnaire answered by the families (n = 81) Exploratory factor analysis and descriptive statistics for the questionnaire answered by the professionals (n = 213) Families and professionals were asked to state how far they agreed with each of the items on a Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the final questionnaire for families, composed of 12 items, was 0.915, and the final questionnaire for professionals, with 13 items, was 0.906, indicating acceptable internal consistency (Taber, 2018) the safest way to collect data was through an online survey We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study through an electronic survey in Google Forms (Google LLC We prepared two surveys: one for families and the other for professionals This study was approved by the Network of Ethics Committees in Universities and Public Research Centers in Spain in accordance with the International Ethical Guidelines for Health-related Research Involving Humans and written informed consent was obtained from parents and professionals prior to data collection we contacted two organizations that manage EIS in Spain and Catalonia the Spanish Association for Early Childhood Intervention (AEIPI) and the Catalan Association of Early Intervention (ACAP) We sent them a document via e-mail with a brief explanation of the project and a link to a fuller explanation of the project a brief sociodemographic questionnaire and the survey The associations sent the information to all affiliated members Participation in the study was voluntary and anonymous and participants did not receive any financial compensation Parents or professionals who agreed to participate which was available for approximately three weeks (from 11 June to 7 July 2020) The survey took approximately 15 min to answer At the end of the survey both families and professionals had the possibility to add observations or comments and to contact the researchers if they had questions An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying dimensions of each of the two versions of the Questionnaire on EIS interventions in times of COVID-19 Data for each questionnaire underwent Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotations Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were computed for each scale to provide an indicator of internal consistency of the measures we calculated Cronbach’s alpha if an item was deleted obtained as the corrected correlation of the item score with that of the corresponding scale Total scores were obtained by calculating the mean for the items on each scale Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were computed for each of the questions answered by professionals and families Each item was scored on a four-point Likert-type scale (1: Strongly disagree A one sample t-test was used to determine whether the mean score of each item was different from 2.5 (the midpoint of the scale) differences between professionals and families were analyzed by comparing the mean scores of the items with similar content for both groups To study the relationship between each of the demographic variables and the total scores on the questionnaires total scores were compared via an independent sample t-test (to compare two means) or One-Way ANOVA (for more than two means) Relationships between continuous demographic variables and total scores were examined via Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients (or Spearman’s correlation coefficients for ordinal demographic variables) effect size was calculated by Cohen’s d variables whose effect was found to be statistically significant in the previous bivariate analyses were included in a linear regression model to predict total score on the questionnaires IBM SPSS Statistics (version 26.0 for Windows) was used for all statistical analyses Missing data were handled by pairwise deletion statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05 Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to explore the dimensionality of the Questionnaire on EIS interventions in times of COVID-19 for families. According to the Unidimensionality Index, UI = (λ1−λ2)/(λ2−λ3) = 19.45, the items clearly satisfied unidimensionality (Slocum-Gori and Zumbo, 2011) except items 12 (“We like to use our own material rather than that of the EIS because we can use it every day and it helps our child”) and 13 (“Our child has received less attention than before lockdown”) with loadings lower than 0.30 Cronbach’s alpha coefficient increased if items 12 and 13 were deleted these two items were removed from the questionnaire and items were renumbered accordingly The final questionnaire (comprising 12 items) underwent PCA again. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.87, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was highly significant (p < 0.001), indicating that the data were suitable for the analysis. The one-factor solution accounted for 53.2% of the total variance. All item loadings were greater than 0.50 (see Table 3) Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was computed to assess the questionnaire’s internal consistency obtained as the corrected correlation of the item score with the total score and it decreased if any of the items were deleted Homogeneity indices were greater than 0.50 for all items the final questionnaire seemed to show a unidimensional structure with a high internal consistency A total score was obtained by calculating the mean score of the 12 items included in the questionnaire. Therefore, total scores (like the item scores) ranged from 1 to 4. Table 3 shows descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) of the total scores and each of the items answered by families (n = 81) the difference between the mean item score and the midpoint of the scale (2.5) was statistically significant (p < 0.01) families agreed with the statement made in the questions the content of those items was related to professional guidelines promoted to foster the child’s development at home (item 8) proposing what to work on (item 3) and using the material they had available in the home (item 4) families agreed that they could discuss other situations affecting them at family level (e.g. symptoms of anxiety or depression because of COVID-19) (item 6) They also reported that the virtual sessions continued to be led by the professional (item 11) and lasted as long as they had done before lockdown (item 9) they were satisfied with the care they received from the EIS during lockdown (item 12) the mean score for six of the items was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the midpoint of the item scale (2.5) This means that families did not clearly agree or disagree with the content of the items they did not report that virtual sessions via a video call allowed them to talk more than before about their daily routines or that they could participate more and contribute their opinions on aspects to work on with their child (item 2) Nor did they particularly agree that their emotional needs as a family were taken into account more than before the lockdown (item 5) that all members of the family participated whereas previously they had not been able to (item 7) or that their opinions were now added to the work plan (item 10) in certain aspects such as the duration of the sessions and the involvement of professionals in other areas (as well as the emotional needs of families) families did not perceive a significant change compared with the pre-lockdown period the total score differed significantly (p < 0.001) from the midpoint (2.5) indicating that (on average) families agreed with the items on the questionnaire since the mean total score (M = 2.90) was approximately equal to the third point of the Likert-type scale (3: “Agree”) The relationship between sociodemographic factors and the total score on the family questionnaire was analyzed the following sociodemographic factors were included in the study: parent’s age and gender and frequency of visits to the EIS before lockdown Parents were also asked whether they had online contact with the EIS before lockdown the effect of employment status on total questionnaire score can be considered as medium (0.06 < η2 < 0.25) The results also showed a relationship between the use of telematic tools prior to lockdown and the total questionnaire score for families (Welch’s t(11.52) = 4.22; p = 0.001; Cohen’s d = 1.54). Parents who used telematic tools prior to the pandemic had a higher mean questionnaire score (M = 3.04; SD = 0.56) than those who had not used them (M = 1.96; SD = 0.82). In accordance with Cohen (1988) the effect of the use of telematic tools on the total questionnaire score of the families can be considered as large (d > 0.50) The other demographic variables (parents’ age and gender and frequency of visits to the EIS before lockdown) did not show significant effects (p > 0.05) on the total score of the questionnaire answered by the families high total scores on the questionnaire corresponded to parents who cared for their children and were fully responsible for housework (versus those in full-time employment) and who had used telematic tools before the pandemic The regression model accounted for 35.7% of the variance of the total questionnaire scores (adjusted R2 = 0.357) Linear regression model on total scores of the questionnaire for families Dimensionality of the Questionnaire on EIS interventions in times of COVID-19 for professionals was explored by PCA. According to the Unidimensionality Index, UI = (λ1−λ2)/(λ2−λ3) = 25.7, the items clearly satisfied unidimensionality (Slocum-Gori and Zumbo, 2011) except item 11 (“Before the opportunity to do this follow-up with families and children at home it was difficult for me to see the importance of an intervention in the natural family-centered context”) with a loading lower than 0.30 Cronbach’s alpha coefficient increased if item 11 was deleted this item was excluded from the questionnaire Principal component analysis was again conducted on the final questionnaire, which comprised 13 items. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.904, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was highly significant (p < 0.001), indicating that the data were suitable for the analysis. The one-factor solution accounted for 48.6% of the total variance. All item loadings were greater than 0.50 (see Table 4) With respect to the internal consistency of the questionnaire for professionals Homogeneity indices were greater than 0.40 for all items the final questionnaire showed a unidimensional structure with a high internal consistency A total score was obtained by calculating the mean score of the 13 items included in the questionnaire. Total scores ranged from 1 to 4. Table 4 shows descriptive statistics for the total score and each question answered by professionals working at an EIS (n = 213) the mean score was statistically different (p < 0.001) from the midpoint of the item scale (2.5) professionals agreed with the statements contained in all the questions This indicates that connecting by videoconference with the families and children had positive consequences for the professionals such as being able to identify specific aspects of the family dynamics daily routines or the functioning of the child in his/her own home has led EIS professionals to rethink their way of working and has encouraged them to intervene with families and children in their natural context (items 11 to 13) Several sociodemographic factors were included in the study: professionals’ gender and age A statistically significant Pearson’s correlation coefficient was found between cognitive professionals’ age and total scores on the professionals’ questionnaire (r = −0.144; p = 0.036) This indicates that younger professionals showed higher scores on the questionnaire than their older peers The other demographic variables included in this study had no statistically significant effect on the total scores on the professionals’ questionnaire Professionals’ age was included in a linear regression model to predict total scores on the professionals’ questionnaire. Results (Table 6) indicate that total scores could be predicted by professionals’ age, although the regression model accounted for only 1.6% of the variance of the total questionnaire scores (adjusted R2 = 0.016). Indeed, the regression line (represented in Figure 1) shows a slight downward trend indicating that older professionals had lower total scores on the questionnaire although the effect size can be considered as low Linear regression model on total scores of the questionnaire for professionals Relationship between professionals’ age and total score on the questionnaire the mean for the same questions was not significantly higher than 2.5 (p > 0.05) did perceive certain advantages during the lockdown: for example they learnt about specific aspects of the family dynamics in the child’s natural context (item 1) and felt that families participated more actively and could give their opinions on aspects to be worked on no statistically significant differences were found between the groups (p > 0.05); that is both professionals and family members generally agreed with the content of the issues raised Both groups agreed that the professional was able to suggest what the child and family could work on at home (item 3) guide families to find new ways to use the material (item 4) attend to other situations affecting the family (such as symptoms of anxiety or depression as a result of COVID-19 worries about money and employment etc.) (item 6) and promote parental interactions that enhanced the child’s development in their own home (item 8) The two surveys in this study recorded information on families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the EI methodology used during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Our aims were to analyze and compare these perceptions and to explore the relation between them and certain sociodemographic variables With respect to the influence of sociodemographic variables on these perceptions these results support the use of telerehabilitation to implement best practices for children with disabilities in order to promote their learning and development in their habitual contexts The families’ responses suggest that the specific actions carried out by the professionals had little in common with the participatory practices recommended in family-centered services despite the opportunities that the use of remote technology could offer them and it does not in any way conflict with the FCP guidelines Not surprisingly, parents accustomed to using computer resources before the COVID-19 pandemic had a more positive perception of the online intervention during the lockdown. Those results are consistent with previous studies assessing factors that either promote or hamper the use of telehealth. Difficulty in accessing technical resources is one of the main reasons for rejecting teleintervention (Kraljević et al., 2020) Most EI professionals who responded were women almost 96%; most were aged between 30 and 49 years old and over half had more than ten years of experience working in EI Most teams comprised six to 10 professionals from different fields As regards sociodemographic factors, the results showed that total scores on the professionals’ questionnaire could be predicted by age. Older professionals had lower total scores on the questionnaire, although the effect size can be considered as low. These findings are consistent with a study carried in Finland by Heiskanen et al. (2021) of rehabilitation professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in which those with the longest work experience were found to be the least likely to use telerehabilitation after the pandemic our results could also be attributed to the context of the implementation of the FCA model in Spain already discussed in the introduction section FCP were introduced only recently and are applied inconsistently among early intervention professionals and teams Older professionals continue to prefer child-focused models; so FCA training is a necessity if we want to achieve a change of perspective among all EI professionals The aim of this study was to assess the work that EI professionals carried out with families and children seen in EIS in Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic and to establish whether this situation might promote a change in their practices we compared families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the intervention methodology used and explored the relation between these perceptions and certain sociodemographic variables it is not clear that the online intervention carried out during the pandemic presented significant changes in terms of the incorporation of FCP Professionals considered that the intervention followed the defining trends of FCP but the impression of the families was less clear-cut; although they perceived some changes with regard to the use of FCP they noted that the intervention maintained many of the characteristics of the traditional child-centered model The families were satisfied with the care received during the pandemic the study shows that the professionals were not perceived as applying the standards of FCP the pandemic situation has highlighted the importance of the family and the involvement of all its members and the need to promote positive parenting at home to optimize the child’s development Although this new awareness is clearly positive more training is still needed and policy makers in Spain should focus on ways of promoting effective change that can be extended to all EIS Some interesting findings were also obtained regarding the role of sociodemographic variables in the perception of the intervention model Mothers with previous use of computer resources and who dedicated themselves entirely to caring for their children and housework were more satisfied with the intervention and observed a more widespread adoption of FCP younger EI professionals perceived the online intervention as being more in line with FCP even though the objective of extending and generalizing FCP is far from being established a change is taking place in the attitudes toward EI among younger professionals in Spain probably due to training and to a lower adherence to more traditional models our aim of comparing the perceptions of families and professionals in relation to the intervention model during the pandemic was hindered by the fact that only six of the questions were the same for both groups because we adjusted the formulation of the items to the previous knowledge and to the characteristics of each group The discrepancy between the items is a drawback and is an issue that needs attention in future work Another limitation is the sampling procedure and the sample size Perhaps the families and the professionals who agreed to participate were particularly interested or concerned about the pandemic or had already generated discussions on the items in their professional teams We would have liked to have been able to reach more professionals and families but potential participants received numerous online questionnaires during the pandemic and many may have been reluctant to respond the results are not representative of all EIS in Spain because we know that many of them have started the transformation toward new more systemic and ecological intervention models This study should now be replicated with a larger number of families and professionals with a representative sample of all the regions of Spain the study was based on self-reports and perceptions; there was no direct observation of EI professional practices the results should be interpreted with caution the study’s cross-sectional design means that we cannot establish causality We also need to qualify the term predictor to predict means just to estimate total questionnaire scores based on the predictor variable scores (such as employment status and does not necessarily imply direct causality although the possibilities for comparison are limited we have provided relevant data on a new topic: families’ and professionals’ perceptions of the early intervention services received and provided during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown The questionnaires used in this study showed both a unidimensional structure and a high internal consistency which allows us to use them in future studies of the topic is the focus on the impact of a critical event in spite of the obstacles that it created; the sample size is small but it is very difficult to engage families and professionals in times of crisis Our results show that the obligation to use the internet for the intervention led professionals to rethink some of their previous practices raised their awareness of the interest and value of adjusting to the families’ needs and increased the participation of the families inside a less directive and a more collaborative model – all of them characteristics of FCP Although our results do not indicate a clear shift toward the use of FCP at EI services they do suggest that the professionals’ greater focus on the family context because of the lockdown caused them to question some of their preconceptions our study may help to increase the spread of FCP our study has implications for future early intervention programs with families Telematic intervention during the pandemic was positively valued by parents and managed to bring the intervention closer to the family context Professionals saw telematic intervention as an opportunity to move toward intervention models that encourage families’ participation and the deployment of strategies focused on daily routines Professionals feel that they have made progress in this direction during the pandemic families have not perceived such significant changes the use of telematic interventions does not in itself guarantee a change in the intervention model we must continue making efforts to approximate the families’ needs and professional visions The application of innovative and remote rehabilitation interventions during the pandemic may have interesting repercussions in the post-COVID-19 scenario Their use in daily clinical practice and in the treatment of children with neurodisabilities in their everyday environment has real potential as long as they are family-centered and take into account the needs of the child and those of their caregivers The use of telerehabilitation can facilitate the use of best practices focusing on empowering families to promote the development and learning of their children with disabilities Research in Spain and in other countries should now continue with case studies including observation of parenting in a natural context and the provision of coaching monitoring and feedback during in-service and online sessions This should help to broaden our understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of online intervention in family-centered parenting practices The benefits and limits of telerehabilitation should continue to be explored in order to make decisions regarding its use either as a primary via of intervention or as a complementary one The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by University of Barcelona’s Bioethics Commission Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants’ legal guardian/next of kin and RB made substantial contributions to conception and design participated in drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content and gave final approval of the version to be submitted All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version This research was supported by a grant from Faculty of Education of the University of Barcelona (PADIND Group; 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Rosa Vilaseca, cm9zYXZpbGFzZWNhQHViLmVkdQ== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish the live event you were looking for is over Memphis still has a number of live events happening throughout the city Here's a calendar of events happening today and in the future UPON A BURNING BODY Alison Krauss & Union Station  Cell Trio ASKING ALEXANDRIA W/ FROM ASHES TO NEW BEARTOOTH Ryze Hendricks Lips Speak Louder w/ Anna Rose Baker, Radar Blips Symmetry Jazz Memphis Songwriters Series Hosted by Mark Edgar Stuart THE PINCH Dead Alive / Phantom / Grave Lurker / Bvrnbvbybvrn Jed Harrelson w/ Alexis Jade BRUCE KEE BAND Brandon Santini Album Release Party Bonnie Raitt CK / Ruined God / Cel Shade / My Skin Is Wax Wim Tapley and the Cannons w/ Jombi & Crooked Diehl Tigers Jaw w/ Rodeo Boys South Memphis Jeff SGT. Splendor Jugfest WALRUS Folk All Y’all presents: Kyshona Tony Holiday Emo Nite Noir Walls + Sleepy Cat Heavy Pours/HEELS/Mike Hewlett The Culture Exchange LANDSLIDE – A TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC KILLSWITCH ENGAGE October London and Tamar Braxton  Whiphouse / Psychic Death / Spoonful Calabrese Memphis Dance Music Assoc. Muse:Stanza The Acacia Strain 311 Goner Presents: The Tubs w/ Ibex Clone CROOKED DIEHL W/ KUNG FU CARWASH Ross Rice and Friends Bastardane x Fury in Few Magic Rockers of Texas BONFIRE ORCHESTRA Iris Collective Strings  The Narrows: EP Release Show Nick Shoulders Dream Disco No Cure / Prevention / Sign Language / Calamity / Surfaced James Sexton: The Otis Mission The Gloryholes / Seize & Desist / Stay Fashionable  Have an idea or suggestion?Tell us at [email protected] Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations Coastal communities across Europe face increasing devastation from plastic pellets EU-wide regulation is urgently needed to prevent pellet loss along the supply chain and protect ecosystems Advertiser Content An Article that an external entity has paid to place or to produce to its specifications New York jazz star Benny Benack III is bringing his smooth vocals and fiery trumpet skills to town joined by powerhouse vocalist Mar Vilaseca and a killer lineup of top-tier musicians Benny Benack III isn’t just a masterful and passionate trumpeter—he’s got that post-bop style down channeling the spirit of legends like Kenny Dorham and Freddie Hubbard He’s also a smooth and seasoned jazz vocalist delivering classic standards and original compositions with a post-Sinatra flair and technical precision allow him to seamlessly blend intricate improvisation with original lyrics and he’s a pretty damn good pianist too Beyond leading modern jazz ensembles on international tours Benny has shared the stage with big names across different music worlds He’s a familiar face at New York’s top jazz clubs like Birdland and the iconic Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle Hotel He’s also performed alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and multi-instrumentalist Mar Vilaseca hails from Barcelona she later earned a master’s degree in jazz from Juilliard and Donald Vega—securing the prestigious JCAF award in 2022 Mar has worked with a long list of top-tier artists She’s taken the stage at major festivals like the Barcelona Jazz Festival and Guangzhou Jazz Festival and performed at legendary venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and Birdland Jon Thomas is one of the most exciting young pianists in the jazz scene today He holds a master’s degree from Juilliard and a bachelor’s from The New School where he trained under heavyweights like Benny Green He’s played alongside jazz greats like Samara Joy earning a reputation as a rising star with both skill and soul Regularly performing at iconic spots like The Blue Note he’s also a fixture on the international jazz festival circuit Joe Peri has been a staple of the New York jazz scene since 2009 from Smalls and The Jazz Gallery to Dizzy’s and Birdland and currently teaches jazz drums at the Manhattan School of Music’s pre-college division A Manhattan School of Music graduate under the mentorship of renowned drummer John Riley the Grammy-winning album by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga He’s played at staple venues like Smalls he’s also performed with some serious heavyweights including Grammy-winning drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts Partial Program 29 Apr/3 May [Rhythm@Romance: Ballads of Love]: I’m Confessin’ That I Love You  Partial Program 2 May [Sounds of Brazil: Bossanova Classics]: Please reach out to our sales team through a contact channel below: Our editors and admins will review your message and respond to your inbox Preparation for Uruguay's historic defeat of Fiji under the sun at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium began the moment the team qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 they had coined the phrase 'shock the world' But, looking forward to France 2023 – which Los Teros recently qualified for as Americas 1 defeating USA over two legs – that phrase needed a definite update In team meetings, the phrase 'immovable goal' was decided as a motto for a team desperate to secure their place in a third consecutive, and fifth overall, Rugby World Cup “Why that phrase?” asks captain Andrés Vilaseca “So that nothing could take our focus away many factors can move you from your main focus The team was closed within and solid as a fist convinced of our ‘immovable goal’ which was to qualify “We need to find a new phrase,” he says with a huge grin With many of the same players from Japan 2019 and a handful from England 2015 coach Esteban Meneses knew that Los Teros had grown from the same qualifying process four years earlier As the Estadio Charrúa rose in stature as the home of Uruguayan rugby and players had the Superliga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) to play professionally he had the ideal preparation given the current circumstances that the world is living under Uruguay was probably the country that best handled the COVID-19 pandemic in the region And with the inaugural SLAR in 2020 cancelled after only three games it meant players had to stay as focused as they could on the big task ahead Despite all the setbacks they came out stronger with SLAR 2021 proving to be a great testing ground for both Uruguay and Chile who was told after the captain’s run that he would have to take Felipe Berchesi’s number 10 jersey as the record points scorer had to urgently return to France for personal matters but I had huge support of staff and players,” said Etcheverry who was penciled in to play at 15 I train almost year-round at 10 here at the Estadio Charrúa When pools were drawn last year, Vilaseca knew he wanted to be in Pool A with France and New Zealand “I sent our coach a screen capture and told him: ‘we have to go there “Mono (Meneses) is a dreamer who dreams big and can convince you of the biggest dreams.” To which Meneses says: “Dreaming of beating France or the All Blacks is crazy and not even the players will believe me but we can have games such as those against Australia and Wales in Japan And we must aim for Italy and Namibia (assuming they will take the Africa 1 spot) We have more recovery days than in Japan and this team must have them as goals We are going to qualify directly for RWC 2027 and at Parma’s Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi will be tests for the match everybody Uruguay has now underlined on their 2023 calendar: 17:45 local time for RWC 2023 I will be at home in France,” said scrum-half Santiago Arata who scored a try in Kamaishi two years ago Having lost 19-16 in the rare air of Denver’s altitude the return game had Los Teros giving one of their best performances winning 34-16 to the delight of the home fans – allowed to go to the stadium to watch their national team for the first time since 2019 We had to work very hard all the way to the end,” added Arata “USA battled hard until the final minute but fortunately our defence stood firm Our discipline and patience came through.” So hard did USA push to turn around a game that had by then already slipped by captain Vilaseca acknowledged that “only five minutes before the end I knew the desired Americas 1 place was ours “Even though we are still flying high with the achievement staff and the union are all well aware of the work being done The best way to control that anxiety will be by finding the new motto that will unite the squad and take them to France Read more: RWC 2023 Spotlight: Uruguay >> Flynn Vilaseca to take oath of office on Thursday Houston ISD Trustees on Monday unanimously agreed to appoint Holly Maria Flynn Vilaseca (Ocampo) to serve the unexpired trustee term representing District VI on the district’s west side worked as a bilingual teacher at HISD’s Windsor Village Elementary School as a Teach for America corps member from 2004 to 2006 Vilaseca has continued working in the education field with Battelle for Kids “I am excited to serve the city and students of Houston,” Flynn Vilaseca said Flynn Vilaseca holds a master’s degree in social-organizational psychology from Columbia University and bachelor’s degrees in Latin American and Caribbean studies and in sports management and communications from the University of Michigan along with newly elected District VII Trustee Anne Sung are scheduled to take the oath of office on Thursday at 12:30 p.m Both Flynn Vilaseca and Sung are filling unexpired trustee terms that run through the end of 2017 You will be automatically redirected to the requested page after 3 seconds.Don't close this page Andrés Vilaseca has agreed to stay on at Vannes the Uruguayan had decided to return home from the French Pro D2 club a decision on Thursday evening was made; the 32-year-old will remain at the club The club is on target for a first-ever promotion to the Top 14 Brive and Mont de Marsan are among those competing for places in the play-off’s Vilaseca took over of the Uruguayan captaincy from RWC 2019 captain Juan Manuel Gaminara in 2020 Gaminara had been captain of Uruguay for four years following RWC 2015 Andrés Vilaseca is the younger brother of Santiago Vilaseca The younger of the brothers also played at RWC 2015 He played in all four of Uruguay’s matches in England and Wales and also featured in all four games in Japan 2019 He has been a mainstay in the team for a sustained period dating back to 2003 Under Andrés Vilaseca, Uruguay had their most competitive Rugby World Cup campaign. The 2023 return was a win over Namibia in Lyon; however there were notable positives in the performances against France and Italy The Teros skipper has 79 test caps. He is the fourth most capped Uruguayan in history behind Diego Magno (105), Gastón Mieres (84) and Mateo Sanguinetti (84) Andrés Vilaseca is a three time Nations Cup champion. Outside of the international arena, Vilaseca has played professional rugby in both North America and South America. He featured in Major League Rugby for Austin and captained Peñarol to the SLAR title in 2022 Led by Sebastian Díaz, Mexico hosted and defeated Jamaica on Saturday. Las Serpientes were 37-22 … First published: October 21, 2024 05:46 PM The Catalan government expects to tender the tramway project in Camp de Tarragona at the beginning of next year. The first phase of the project, known as TramCamp, will connect the cities of Cambrils, Salou, and Vila-seca. The line will connect 14 stations, one of which will be the Port Aventura amusement park, which will be connected to Rodalies commuter trains. The second phase aims to connect Reus and Tarragona, creating a network spanning 46 km with 47 stations. The announcement was made on Monday by mobility secretary Manel Nadal, who said the government was committed to "train policies." The total cost of the firsat phase of the work is €150 million. Andrés Vilaseca is too play in France. The captain of Los Teros and Peñarol is being recruited by Vannes from Uruguay The move comes after Alapati Leiua failed medical exams Vannes play in France’s second division The club has been competing for promotion to the Top 14 and has been close in recent seasons Vilaseca will join fellow RWC 2019 Uruguayan Nicolás Freitas at the club Freitas had an impressive rookie season at the club in 2021-2022 He was a regular starter at outside center Vilaseca’s regular position is inside center He joins Vannes with 70 test caps to his name Andrés Vilaseca is a three time Nations Cup champion. He was also a regular in the Americas Rugby Championship. Outside of the international arena, Vilaseca has played professional rugby in both North America and South America. He featured in Major League Rugby for Austin and captained Peñarol to the SLAR title in 2022 with whom he won the national Uruguayan championship in 2013 The same club produced both Santiago Vilaseca and Juan Manuel Gaminara Tags Andrés Vilaseca is Uruguay’s new captain The 29-year-old replaces Juan Manuel Gaminara who led Los Teros for four years following RWC 2015 He played in all four of Uruguay’s matches in England and Wales and also featured in all four games in Japan 2019 He takes over as captain with 59 caps to his name Andrés Vilaseca is a three time Nations Cup champion (2017-2018-2019) He has also been a regular in the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) He featured in Major League Rugby for Austin Elite before departing to join Montevideo’s Súper Rugby Americana de Rugby side Peñarol The same club produced both Santiago Vilaseca and Juan manual Gaminara Vilaseca has prior captaincy experience for his country. He led Los Teros against Australia at RWC 2019 He has also filled-in for Gaminara in the past Tags The Hard Rock hotel-casino complex project has been halted due to environmental criteria after the Catalan climate action ministry issued an unfavorable report as reported by newspaper Ara and later confirmed by the Catalan News Agency (ACN) The international company proposed building a recreational tourist center in the area beside Port Aventura amusement park in the southern towns of Vila-seca and Salou The report issued by the Catalan government states that the sustainability aspects requested are not fulfilled and focuses on the "lack of environmental compensations and ecological connectivity guarantees."  These are considered "important and essential" aspects of the project to ensure that it complies with the "minimum" ecological requirements This is not the first time that the Hard Rock hotel-casino complex has faced difficulties. In February, the Vila-seca and Salou tourism board greenlighted a new urban plan paving the way for the complex, after the Catalan High Court partially struck down the plans in September 2020. Planning permission was denied by the magistrate as it was deemed that the proposed site posed a “chemical risk” to open, green spaces. The opinion of the judge was that the location of the plan posed enough of a threat to a natural, open area that should be protected from such dangers. The decision was a response to a complaint brought by the activist group Aturem BCN World, who are fighting to stop the project for ecological reasons. The mayor of Vila-seca, Pere Segura, criticized the report from the climate action department. Segura says the report is just one of many from the Catalan government and that by making appropriate modifications the project will be able proceed. The mayor recognizes that differences between government departments may delay the project, but believes it will eventually go ahead. It is not normal that we have been processing, discussing and going over certain issues for ten years The Hard Rock project is "very important" for the future of the Camp de Tarragona region, the mayor says, admitting frustration that it is still in the administrative planning process one decade on.  "It is not normal that we have been processing, discussing and going over certain issues for ten years."  "It's a project that the region wants, with precautions and sensitivities, but there will come a point where investors will go crazy," Segura warns.  Despite the setback, he remains hopeful that final approval will be granted towards the end of this year.  the Catalan government led by pro-independence Esquerra and the opposition Socialists approved the 2024 budget for Catalonia but still lacking enough support to pass it.  and the next two weeks will be crucial for Esquerra and the Socialists to gather enough support the final vote will be held in early April The Socialists and Esquerra will need two individual votes in favor or at least four abstentions.  Their more likely third party is the anti-austerity Comuns the Comuns have drawn a clear red line: the approval of the Hard Rock casino complex.  Esquerra is caught between a rock and a hard place: while the Comuns link their support to the rejection of the project the Socialists base theirs on its approval But Esquerra insist that this is a technical matter and not a political decision.  More than ten years after it was first proposed the leisure and gaming mega-complex to be built in Vila-seca and Salou consisted of six theme parks covering 445 hectares and required an investment of around €4.8 billion.  the company behind the original project withdrew and three years later Hard Rock took over and significantly scaled down the project.  The current project includes a large casino a commercial area and a conference center with a total capacity of 15,000 people.  The casino complex project has been controversial over the past decade sparking debates among political parties about the country's tourism and economic model.  Critics argue that it would have a significant environmental impact on the area, exacerbate gambling addiction, and support a mass tourism and economic model that does not benefit the area. The ongoing drought in Catalonia adds another layer of complexity to the public approval of this mega-project.  On the other hand, those in favor of the project see it as a major boost to Catalonia's GDP and a significant economic opportunity.  The Hard Rock project has been stalled for several years, awaiting the approval of a new Urban Development Plan (PDU) since the Catalan High Court (TSJC) annulled the original one in 2020.  Despite assurances in last year's budget agreement between the government and the Socialists that the process would be completed in the first semester, it is still on hold, awaiting additional reports from the Climate Action Department.  Esquerra, on the other hand, claims that the project is progressing according to its regular schedule. Climate Action Minister David Mascort confirmed on Friday that the report from his department's technicians on the project will be completed "in the coming weeks".  On Tuesday, Comuns leader Jéssica Albiach issued an ultimatum to the government, threatening to withdraw from the budget negotiations if the government did not revoke the Hard Rock project.   "If there is no explicit commitment from the president that the PDU will not be approved, we will not support the budgets," she said.  In addition, the Comuns this week registered a law in parliament that would impose a 55% tax rate on the Hard Rock project if it becomes a reality.  Amid the controversy, Catalan president Pere Aragonès said he was "not excited" about the project, stressing that the political decision to pass it was made in 2014 with the support of Convergència i Unió (now defunct), the Socialists and the conservative People's Party.  "I don't know if the Hard Rock project will be realized in the end. It depends on private investors and is not a government decision," said Aragonès. He also warned that the Catalan government could face economic claims from private companies for acquired rights if the project does not go ahead.  Catalan Economy Minister Natàlia Mas warned the Comuns that it would be "difficult to explain" if they blocked budgets over Hard Rock, as the party voted in favor of the 2022 budget "that explicitly included an allocation of €120 million for the Hard Rock project."   Mas added that "citizens are tired of a project that monopolizes the political debate" and clarified that "not a single euro" in the budget is allocated to the project.  Meanwhile, the far-left pro-independence party CUP has announced its intention to submit a total amendment to the 2024 budget.  "We see no room for an agreement with a government that lives off the crumbs of the Socialists," CUP MP Mar Ampurdanès said after a meeting with the government.    Archive HOUSING after being run over by a skip lorry as he rode his bicycle near his home at London Bridge who specialised in Hispanic studies and critical theory He wrote two major books and a string of brilliant articles over the course of some 20 years As an authority on Spanish and Catalan culture he produced original and innovative studies of a number of writers and exiles from their native land or language Himself a proud and openly gay man who had made his life in London rather than his native Barcelona David clearly had a personal interest in such figures But as a master in the demanding school of poststructuralist thought especially psychoanalysis and queer theory His central theme was that identity was unstable and the limits between self and other difficult It was a theme he would also explore in a prizewinning novel David took his first degree in philology in 1987 at Barcelona's Autonomous University before studying for an MA at Bloomington in spite of the fact that he had a full teaching load as a language assistant He then returned to teach at his home university Finding the British system more receptive to his research he came back to a lectureship at Southampton University in 1994 before moving to Royal Holloway as senior lecturer in 2000 with rapid promotion to professor of Hispanic studies and critical theory in 2003 whose autobiography was written in several indecipherable hands and in a macaronic mix of languages was clearly a perfect match for David's deconstructive approach Identification and Paranoia in Salvador Dalí's Autobiographical Writings Where previous scholars had attempted to discover the "true" Dalí behind the multiple masks David took seriously the elusiveness of identity in a subject who wrote gnomically: "There are four Dalís and the best is the fifth." Crucially this sense of self was built on Dalí's vehement rejection of homosexuality The painter could thus at one moment write jokingly to Lorca as a rent boy and at another insist dogmatically: "Let there be no misunderstanding on this point Bizarre episodes in Dalí's autobiography suddenly made sense in David's subtle and sensitive readings Dalí struggles with a razor blade to cut out a tick that he believes has attached itself to his back thus prove perilously difficult to separate While David's first book had on its cover a youthful Dalí Hindsight and the Real: Subjectivity in Gay Hispanic Autobiography (2003) boasted Johnny Depp in full drag from the film version of Before Night Falls the autobiography of the Cuban exile Reinaldo Arenas Catalan and Hispanic writers could prove unsettling to scholars and activists alike he showed convincingly that Arenas actively constructed an image of himself as a person with HIV/Aids even as that identity was imposed upon him; and that the Spanish novelist Juan Goytisolo came to identify himself as a homosexual only when told as much by his mentor This was a fine example of the "hindsight" of David's title the way in which retrospectively we build narratives of ourselves telling tales that are never simple or single It was perhaps a surprise that such a private person as David should publish a novel that was clearly autobiographical in origin L'Aprenentatge de la Soledat (The Apprenticeship of Solitude) is the story of a gay Catalan living in the London which David loved While it would be naive to take the novel as a personal revelation (David worked for years on stylistic revisions of his text) it charts with disconcerting objectivity love and sex in the capital it marked David's return to the Catalan language and won him the 2007 Octubre prize for Catalan fiction as in the continuing relationship between patient and psychoanalyst Dalí's autobiography was "part of a love story which has clearly not come to an end" born 6 February 1964; died 9 February 2010 Peñarol have named Andrés Vilaseca as captain. The 29-year-old replaces teammate Alejandro Nieto as skipper for the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season The appointment means that the inside center is now captain of both Peñarol and Uruguay Vilaseca took over of the Uruguayan captaincy from Juan Manuel Gaminara in 2020 Andrés Vilaseca is a three time Nations Cup champion He has also been a regular in the Americas Rugby Championship Vilaseca has played professional rugby abroad He featured in Major League Rugby for Austin Elite before departing to join Peñarol Tags World Rugby has finalized referee appointments for the July 2025 Internationals. Men’s teams from around … ACN With the incorporation of Ferrari Land, Port Aventura World will become the first resort in Europe to integrate a theme park, Port Aventura, a water park, Caribbean World and Ferrari Land. Moreover, the complex has five hotels, a convention center, a golf camp and a beach club.  One of Ferraris’ directors, Luca Fuso, assured that the alliance between Port Aventura World and Ferrari Land “will be a success” since they both share the European and Mediterranean cultures, as well as the willingness to innovate and look toward the future, he said. According to Port Aventura’s General Director, Fernando Aldecoa, Ferrari Land will allow the complex to reach a record 5 million visitors this year and attract normally smaller markets like Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. Indeed, the new ‘Cavallino Rampante’ attraction is expected to increase the number of foreign visitors to the resort, which is currently 55% of the total.  The tickets are selling at a “record pace”, said Aldecoa who forecasted a very successful Easter and summer season. The tickets for Ferrari Land cost €60 and include access to all of Port Aventura's rides and attractions. The company directors believe that both Ferrari Land and Port Aventura can remain open all year long. Ferrari’s theme park will generate 400 new jobs. 550 people have been working on the construction of the park for the last two years. Ferrari Land occupies a 70,000 m2 area and hosts 11 rides and attractions.  The ‘Red Force’, Europe’s largest roller-coaster reaches a height of 112 meters, accelerating from 0 to 180 km/h in five seconds. Then, it plunges back down in 30 seconds. Indeed, the value of the acceleration is 4.5g, which is higher than that of Formula 1 race cars. The ‘Red Force’ has a capacity of 1,200 passengers per hour.  Besides this outstanding roller-coaster, the park boasts other hi-tech innovative attractions related to the GT and F1 world, such as simulators, electric car tracks,  and attractions for children. 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Barcelona La Pineda Platja – a water-themed breakEnjoy a relaxing and fun trip to the region of Aquopolis and PortAventura World There's nothing better than starting a relaxing weekend than disconnecting by the sea we suggest you start off with a nice stroll along the coastline featuring nearly 4 kilometres of beaches that provide lovely surroundings The beaches are certified Blue Flag areas by the European Foundation of Environmental Eductation There you can also see one of the most representative symobls of La Pineda: a group of sculptures by the same name which stand 24 metres tall and weigh 130 tonnes embellish the seaside boardwalk as a symbol of sustainability The steel and copper sculpture has helped promote the Vila-seca as its image was adopted as a logo for the Patronat Municipal de Turisme de Vila-seca receives visitors filtering light and wind the work of sculptor Sergi Aguilar was built as a tribute to writer and poet Carlos Barral you can head to the Parc del Pinar del Perruquet a natural space that's 2.5 hectares in size where you can stroll around and relax while the kids have a great time get yourself energized to discover Vila-seca by walking along the Raval de la Mar a large road that's just over 3 kilometres and is made for both road traffic and leisurely strolls or cycling you can learn about the area's corners full of history through a route marked with QR codes that will give you information about each monument Along the way you'll find the Parc de la Torre d'en Dolça named after the 16th-century defence tower that stands in the middle of the park and where you can take a break and rest for a while and you can also choose from a variety of beauty and well-being treatments Enjoy a wonderful experience for mind and body Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! facebooktwitterspotifytiktokAbout us Contact us Time Out Worldwide Ferrari Land will be separate from the Port Aventura theme park. Even so, the Italian theme park will be part of the Port Aventura World Parks & Resorts, together with Port Aventura and Costa Caribe Aquatic Park. The construction will be finished by the end of the year, when the company will start to sell tickets. People will be able to buy them only for Ferrari Land or also combined with the other two parks. The Cavallino Rampante, the tallest rollercoaster in Europe Testing of the Cavallino Rampante will start in June. A huge crane has hoisted a nine-ton Ferrari race team shield, called the Cavallino Rampante (“prancing horse”), which is 12 metres tall by nine metres wide, at the entrance to the rollercoaster. With a capacity of 1,200 passengers per hour, it will be the main attraction of Ferrari Land. The Cavallino Rampante will accelerate from 0 to 180 kilometres per hour in five seconds. It has a height of 112 metres, to which people will rise and later drop sharply over 30 seconds. It will be the tallest rollercoaster in Europe. “Everybody will want to simulate how a F1 driver feels”, explained Luis Valencia. Family, friends and curious observers will be able to see the emotional ride in a spectator stand near the Cavallino Rampante. The second Ferrari Land in the world - Abu Dhabi hosts the first one - will create 150 jobs by means of its activity. Its investment exceeds 100 million euros and the organising company wants to attract both families and F1 fans across Europe with its installations, which will include shops and restaurants. Ferrari Land - which will have its own luxury hotel in a future second phase - expects to reach five million visitors and more than one million overnight stays annually, largely due to the potential of the Ferrari brand to attract tourists from traditional markets like France, the United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, among others. In 2015, four million people came to Port Aventura World and more than 800,000 stayed overnight, according to the ex-Director of Port Aventura, Luis Herault. So, Ferrari Land would increase by 20% the number of visitors to the resort, breaking all records achieved since it opened in May 1995. The new URV employment programme for people with special needs has successfully completed the academic year this first edition has shown that the methodology used which involves the participants having more practical experience and real contact with the world of work empowers them and gives them a better preparation The Inwork programme is part of the Inserlab project which the URV first started five years ago to help young people with intellectual disabilities to find work This year it has also included people with developmental disorders and autism spectrum disorders and it is innovative because it integrates learning into practical work experience “The combination of education with practical experience gives students the chance to apply theoretical knowledge in a professional environment and develop key skills for their future work” who is positive about a “more active” methodology that has allowed students to interact with companies and other organisations and check that they are able to do jobs that are useful for society She also believes that this initiative helps to break stereotypes and to consolidate more inclusive cultures in companies the Inwork programme will continue next year (also from February to June) because ONCE will continue to provide funding and other companies and organisation An example of the methodology used is the work the students submitted at the end of the course the design of an entrepreneurship project: a company to provide care for the elderly “It’s a very useful service for people who have relatives in a nursing home and need someone to visit them They are ideally equipped to provide this support to provide small care services,” explains Torres-Coronas according to whom this sort of company shows that there is a place for them in the world of work in another practical experience during the course the Human Tower Museum in Valls “hired” them to assess how the facilities had been adapted to visitors with different types of physical and intellectual disabilities and they drew up a report with recommendations for improvement in aspects such as the cognitive accessibility of the information (that is the signage of the spaces and access from the street the twelve boys and girls who had completed it were awarded their diplomas this Wednesday in an event held at Vila-seca Castle They were all highly satisfied with the result of the programme which showed her how much she had improved and enabled her to envisage a working life for which she has some projects and a great desire to try new things She found the experience at the Museu Casteller de Valls particularly enriching Blanca Vílchez also pointed out that the internship showed her that she is “capable of anything”  And very soon she will be sitting the state examinations for a job in the administration made particular mention of the involvement of numerous agents who had made it possible “to turn the customary no into a yes.” Pallarès encouraged the new graduates to show willing not to be afraid and to trust in their own abilities a group of students from the IFE (Specific Training Itineraries) of the Cal·lípolis Institute designed and organised the URV’s first Inclusive Sports Day Held in April at the university’s sports hall it had more than a hundred participants from the IFEs of the Domènech i Montaner Secondary School in Reus the Andreu Nin Secondary School from El Vendrell and the occupational centre of the Onada Foundation The student organizers of the day found that there was a great need for inclusion in sport the experience was enriching because he learned to “organise activities in terms of the specific needs of the participants such as deciding what food to provide for a colleague with Prader-Willi syndrome” Xavier and Anna said that the day enabled them to “develop new skills and grow as people” while Raba emphasized the importance of having helped to improve the facilities for the disabled something he feels is “very rewarding” Edgar highlighted the pioneering nature of the day and the need for it to be repeated by other universities “The day is an excellent opportunity to show that everyone has the right to practise sport and enjoy what they love without limitations” inclusive sport must be given greater visibility Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Google Maps 977 29 79 75 Help us improve this site and especially its Serrallo neighborhood as well as the Plaça Imperial Tarraco square and the lower floors of the Santa Tecla hospital has been particularly hard-hit by the storm but other parts of southern Catalonia have also been affected with rainwater even sweeping away cars in some areas.  Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra police have had to partially evacuate the Les Palmeres campsite in the southern Catalan city due to the flooding There are also disruptions to Rodalies' RT2, R13, R14, R15, R16 and R17 train lines, with no service at all between Tarragona and Vila-seca, while a long-distance train was forced to stop in Cambrils a care home in Canonja and a school in El Catllar have flooded according to firefighters working on the scene.  The N-340 and AP-7 highways have been closed off to traffic in Vila-seca while other points of the AP-7 have also flooded N-340 in Coma-ruga and A-2 in Sant Joan Despí are also affected had received 94 calls by 6:30 pm from people in the area in need of assistance due to the adverse weather while the 112 emergency hotline had gotten 478 calls by 7 pm Authorities warned only a day earlier that Catalonia would be subject to more frequent and more extreme episodes of rain in the coming years due to climate change.  Around a third of Catalan municipalities are at high or very high risk of flooding a phenomenon civil protection and Meteocat weather service experts predict will have caused some €2.5bn in damage from 2004 to 2033.  The recent death of a toddler who was hit by 10-cm wide hailstones in northern Catalonia is a reminder that these future storms will likely exact a human toll too.  Safety recommendations before and during storms, which are even more common in the fall, include making sure water drainage systems are not clogged and not getting close to riverbeds and streams. People should get out of cars immediately if they are somewhere that begins to flood, leave vehicles parked in garages where they are, stay home if the streets are inundated, switch off the electricity, as well as avoid standing under trees if they are outside and it begins to hail.  The Faculty of Tourism and Geography of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili is hosting the fourth training session of the ClimEd project between May 6 and May 10 It aims to train Ukrainian researchers to undertake academic programmes in climate services in their country it is the first in-person training after the COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of war in this eastern European country The meeting has been organised by the University Institute for Research in Sustainability and Energy Transition (IU-Rescat) and the Centre for Climate Change (3C) of the URV ClimEd is a European Erasmus+ project for Qualification in Higher Education in which Ukrainian ministries and institutions and two universities from Finland and Estonia About twenty researchers from Ukraine have travelled to the Vila-seca campus to participate in the conference along with the URV members The sessions will be given by research staff from the URV and the other institutions involved in the project “This collaboration symbolises a step forward in the normalisation and advancement of academic and scientific dialogue,” says Jon Xavier Olano a researcher at IU-Rescat and one of the organisers of the event After the interruption in training researchers as a result of the outbreak of war this innovative project now seeks to revitalise and expand the educational infrastructure in the discipline of climate in Ukraine providing new impetus to international collaboration the project aims to develop curricula and academic programmes that comply with the standards of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and are based on competencies for the comprehensive continuous education of specialists in the field of climate services and to initiate and develop additional education on climate change The training session primarily targets decision-makers and experts in climate-dependent economic sectors and the dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Geography with sessions in both the morning and afternoon Homes and Property | Home Page A London university professor was killed after being knocked off his bicycle and dragged under the wheels of a lorry professor of Hispanic studies and critical theory at Royal Holloway University died after becoming trapped beneath the lorry following the collision He is understood to have been hit as the skip lorry turned left at a busy junction less than 100 yards from his home on the South Bank near Tower Bridge a specialist in modern Spanish and Catalan literature cultural criticism and "Queer Theory" at the college was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash last Tuesday morning A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries The driver of the lorry stopped at the scene Royal Holloway University said: "It is with the very greatest sadness that we report the tragic death of Professor David Vilaseca in a road traffic accident on Tuesday "The thoughts of the whole School are with his family colleagues and students at this most difficult of times." Prof Vilaseca-Perez is understood to have studied in Barcelona and Indiana University Officers from the Met's Collision Investigation Unit are now investigating the incident and are appealing for any witnesses to contact police on 020 8285 1574 Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Five people were seriously injured and 17 slightly following a rail crash in the north of Spain on Sunday evening involved a freight train and a passenger train in Vila-seca (Tarragona) Train operator Renfe said that the passenger train was operating on the Barcelona - Tortosa (Tarragona) service and was carrying around 100 people at the time R16 and R17 lines between Tarragona and Reus (Tarragona) have been restored on one track this Monday morning after being disrupted overnight due to the accident; the other track remains closed while work continues to remove the damaged regional passenger train The five seriously injured people were transferred by the ambulance service to the Santa Tecla and Joan XXIII hospitals in Tarragona and the minor injuries to the health centres in Salou Cambrils and Vila-seca (Tarragona); seven people were treated and discharged at the scene of the accident explained on its Twitter account that the collision was due to a fault in the braking system of the freight locomotive and the investigation is still continuing to clarify the facts Nuevo accidente ferroviario, parece que sin víctimas, en Vila-Seca en un tren que según Adif iba de Barcelona a Tortosa y la pareja de locomotoras 310 ex-TMD, ahora responsabilidad de Captrain. Al parecer hubo un problema con los frenos de las locomotoras. + info mañana. pic.twitter.com/xEdNoMWqC3 Comentar es una ventaja exclusiva para registrados Take a close look at photographs of Manuela Portas Vilaseca They’re enough to make you wonder if anything you’re doing to pursue a healthy lifestyle compares This vibrant woman never met an athletic endeavour she couldn’t conquer which is why those pictures depict her mountain biking running and joyously plundering every type of topography that passes beneath her feet Many of Manu’s photos show a dirt- and mud-covered face above a huge grin But it’s the feminine little earrings she wears on rugged challenges that drew our attention Beneath Manu’s exterior lies a girly-girl who’s as quick to don a pair of earrings as she is to lace up her running shoes and conquer the world Manu: I can’t give you an exact date but I do recall how it good it felt the first time I tried endurance sports and realised that it suited me but my stamina is awesome; I can handle hours of activity and keep going My first adventure race was on my birthday but learning that I was an adventurer at heart came about one night in the middle of nowhere I realised that I felt totally exhilarated all by myself out there mountain bike (and Enduro) and I also do Yoga Manu: I love trail running—even more than just running There’s something about the wilderness If all of this beauty didn’t surround me as I ran I don’t know if I could handle all of those kilometres Manu: This is a hard question to answer because I’ve been in so many races had so many great experiences and each has a special memory or achievement attached to it so these are my biggest accomplishments: My 1st place in the STY 2013 5th place in the Transgrancanaria 2015 and 5th place at Lavaredo Ultra Trail 2015 One of my favourite places to run is in Japan I’ll never forget being there to run both the STY and UTMF I felt so happy running in such a peaceful place where the ground was soft under my feet and the landscape was stunning But if I let that thought or fear creep into my mind I take precautions to stay as safe as possible but I try not to imagine what could happen Manu: I hope you don’t mind me repeating myself but the scenery surrounding me when I run is my biggest motivator and inspiration Between the landscapes and all of the good energy that surrounds me as I run I can’t be anything but happy and calm I’m also reassured that I’m in the place that I want to be but I visited Singapore a long time ago—before I was into running I stopped in Singapore on my way to the Maldives and I remember being impressed by how organised things were Everything was so different from Brazil—I felt surrounded by technology Manu: The gear I take depends on the race I will run If a race requires me to cover my legs or arms I wear Capri tights and a long-sleeve shirt if it’s not too hot I pack long socks and choose shoes based on the terrain race distance and especially the number and type of aid stations along the route Every race is unique; some aid stations have support and others don’t I save longer runs for the weekend because I have more time I have a degree in industrial design and own a store that sells frames and pictures Having no kids allows me to arrange my busy schedule accordingly and since I also run for The North Face brand Manu: The next race on my calendar is the Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc I chose three races from the world tour list for 2015 in order to be able to rank I’ve placed 5th in both the Transgrancanaria and Lavaredo and since the UTMB is the last tour race for 2015 I would love to break that 5th-place streak Manu: Exactly what I’m doing at the moment I’m spending two months in Europe with my family enjoying the mountains Inspiration can mean the difference between running a so-so race and glorying in the world in which that race takes place Manu Vilaseca can’t help but be inspired by mountains and other aspects of nature Some runners do better with crowds cheering them on If you were to choose only one environment in which to run because it motivates you to keep going We are privileged to have Manu Vilaseca drop by and thank her for her time. We wish her all the best in her next race! You can follow Manu on Instagram @manuvilaseca, Facebook or visit her site to find out more about her Get free access to the latest running event updates With a commitment and pride to quality content for the running community