San Juan de la Rambla stepped into the national spotlight this weekend as one of the featured towns on TVE’s Grand Prix del Verano, with Paralympian Desirée Vila chosen as the municipality’s official ambassador for the popular television competition.
While the Tenerife town narrowly missed victory against Quintanar del Rey, organisers described the experience as “an unforgettable historic milestone” for the community.
A Story of Determination
Originally from Pontevedra, Desirée Vila began her sporting career in athletics before a serious medical complication led to the amputation of one of her legs.
Rather than stepping away from sport, she rebuilt her career in para-athletics, going on to become one of Spain’s best-known Paralympic athletes.
Alongside her sporting achievements, Vila has become a respected communicator and advocate for disability inclusion, raising awareness of adaptive sport and promoting greater accessibility.
Her story of resilience and perseverance made her a natural choice to represent San Juan de la Rambla during its appearance on national television.
Representing Tenerife on National TV
San Juan de la Rambla was selected from more than 1,200 municipalities across Spain to compete in the 2026 edition of Grand Prix del Verano, giving the north Tenerife town a unique opportunity to showcase its community to a nationwide audience.
Following the broadcast, the Town Hall praised everyone involved, from the competitors and volunteers to the residents who travelled to support the team and those who appeared in the town’s introductory video.
Officials highlighted the strong sense of community, sportsmanship and pride shown throughout the competition.
A Performance to Remember
Although San Juan de la Rambla was ultimately defeated by Quintanar del Rey, the team scored 21 points, remaining in contention for much of the contest.
For the municipality, the experience was about far more than the final result. It provided a national platform to showcase the town’s identity, community spirit and local pride, with Desirée Vila helping to represent Tenerife through a powerful message of determination and inclusion.