The bizarre comment by Chile’s sports minister that made her apologise | OneFootball

Natalia Duco, Chile’s Minister of Sports, was once again thrust into the spotlight after a series of statements sparked a strong backlash. During the presentation of an international event, the official said that “the number one priority” of her administration would be to provide athletes with “nice clothes,” prompting immediate criticism from different sectors.

As the hours passed and the debate grew, Duco tried to tone down the controversy and acknowledged: “I want to apologize if my words were not the right ones”. However, far from fully backtracking, she reaffirmed her view by arguing that sportswear is a key aspect, especially for those representing the country in international competitions.

In that regard, the former shot putter expanded on her idea with a phrase that did not go unnoticed: “Clothing is like a superhero’s suit,” emphasizing that image also plays a role in competition. She even went further by saying that “if someone competes wearing bad clothing, they already start at a disadvantage,” which fueled the public debate even more.

The controversy soon escalated into the political arena. Government spokesperson Mara Sedini downplayed the situation and pushed back against what she described as “malicious interpretations” of the minister’s remarks. She also stressed that the government’s agenda is focused on more urgent issues such as security, organized crime, and migration.

Criticism over her remarks

There were also critical responses from the sports world. Gymnast Makarena Pinto argued that the real needs involve better structural conditions, such as access to medical teams, equal opportunities, and funding to compete. Along those lines, she questioned why the discussion is centered on clothing when there are still basic shortcomings that prevent athletes from representing the country with dignity.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.