Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of May 13, 2026, from the Presidency of the Higher Council of Sports, publishing the Agreement with the Pontifical University of Salamanca for the implementation of joint actions that facilitate the education and job placement of high-level and elite athletes within the framework of the Athlete Care Program |
|---|---|
| Publication | May 22, 2026 |
| Entry into force | Not specified |
| Affected parties | Spanish high-level and elite athletes |
| Category | Education |
| Signatory bodies | Higher Council of Sports and Pontifical University of Salamanca |
| Framework program | Athlete Care Program |
High-level and elite athletes in Spain can now combine their sporting careers with recognized university studies at the Pontifical University of Salamanca, thanks to the agreement signed between this institution and the Higher Council of Sports. The Resolution of May 13, 2026, published in the BOE on May 22, 2026, formalizes this agreement within the Athlete Care Program.
The agreement is not merely a statement of intent: it establishes concrete joint actions that include education adapted to competition and training schedules, and professional guidance for the transition to the job market once the sporting career ends. For elite athletes, this agreement solves one of their main problems: the incompatibility between standard university schedules and the demands of high-level sports.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement defines a framework for collaboration between the Higher Council of Sports and the Pontifical University of Salamanca to implement joint actions in two main areas:
- Adapted university education: Training programs specifically designed to adjust to the needs and schedules of high-level and elite athletes, allowing them to combine higher education with sporting activity.
- Job placement: Professional guidance to facilitate the transition to the job market once the sporting career concludes, addressing one of the most vulnerable moments for these professionals.
The agreement is integrated into the Athlete Care Program, the institutional framework of the Higher Council of Sports that seeks to guarantee the comprehensive development of elite athletes beyond their competitive performance. This agreement with the Pontifical University of Salamanca adds to the existing network of universities collaborating with high-level sports in Spain, strengthening the territorial and academic coverage available to these athletes.
Economic and operational impact
This agreement does not generate direct costs for companies or for the athletes themselves in terms of fees or prices published in the regulation. The impact is fundamentally operational and strategic for the parties involved:
- For elite athletes: Access to recognized university degrees without having to abandon their sporting careers, which increases their future employability and reduces the risk of labor exclusion upon retirement.
- For sports federations and clubs: The possibility of retaining high-level sporting talent by eliminating the choice between sports and academic education. An athlete who can study while competing has fewer incentives to abandon elite sports prematurely.
- For sponsoring companies and the sports ecosystem: The improvement of elite athletes' educational profiles increases their value as brand ambassadors and facilitates their incorporation into the business world after retirement.
- For the Pontifical University of Salamanca: It strengthens its positioning as an institution committed to high-level sports and expands its base of potential students with a differentiated profile.
The regulation does not specify financial amounts, number of available places, or specific access conditions beyond belonging to the category of high-level or elite athlete recognized by the Higher Council of Sports.
Who does it affect?
- High-level athletes: Those officially recognized with this category by the Higher Council of Sports, who can access the adapted training programs at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
- Elite athletes: Equally recognized by the CSD, with access to the same joint education and job placement actions.
- Spanish sports federations: As entities that manage and support these athletes, they have a direct interest in knowing and promoting this educational pathway among their athletes.
- Elite sports clubs: That can incorporate this agreement as part of their comprehensive athlete development policy.
- HR departments of companies that hire former athletes: The increased educational level of elite athletes expands the profile of available candidates with high-performance experience.
- Pontifical University of Salamanca: As the institution implementing the adapted training programs.
Practical example
A high-level swimmer with participation in international competitions and double daily training sessions cannot follow a university degree with standard in-person schedules. Until now, she had to choose between her sporting career and her academic education.
With this agreement, that athlete can enroll at the Pontifical University of Salamanca in a training program adapted to her training and competition schedule. Additionally, she receives professional guidance to identify job opportunities aligned with her profile once she retires from high-level sports.
The practical result: she can complete a recognized university degree without interrupting her sporting career, and reaches retirement with a degree and a job placement plan already developed, rather than facing the job market without education or professional network.
What should organizations do now?
- Identify high-level and elite athletes in the workforce or under management of the federation or club, and inform them of the existence of this agreement and its training possibilities.
- Contact the Higher Council of Sports through the Athlete Care Program to obtain updated information about the process for accessing the training programs at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
- Verify that the athlete is officially recognized as high-level or elite by the CSD, as this recognition is the requirement for accessing the agreement's actions.
- Incorporate this educational pathway into dual career plans of the athletes managed, integrating university education as part of medium and long-term sports planning.
- Stay alert to specific access conditions that the Pontifical University of Salamanca or the CSD may publish, given that the regulation does not detail places, registration deadlines, or specific academic requirements beyond the sports category.
Frequently asked questions
Which athletes can benefit from the CSD-UPSA 2026 agreement?
Spanish high-level and elite athletes recognized as such by the Higher Council of Sports, who want to combine their sporting activity with university studies at the Pontifical University of Salamanca.
What does the agreement between the CSD and the Pontifical University of Salamanca specifically offer?
The agreement includes training programs adapted to the schedules and needs of elite athletes, as well as professional guidance for their transition to the job market once their sporting career ends.
When does the CSD-UPSA agreement for elite athletes enter into force?
The resolution was published on May 22, 2026. The entry into force date has not been specified in the regulation published in the BOE.
Within what program is this agreement with UPSA integrated?
It is integrated within the Athlete Care Program of the Higher Council of Sports, which seeks to guarantee the comprehensive development of athletes beyond their sporting careers.
What universities already collaborate with high-level sports in Spain?
The regulation does not detail the complete list of collaborating universities. It does indicate that this agreement with the Pontifical University of Salamanca strengthens the existing network of universities collaborating with high-level sports in Spain.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official sourceNotice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information contained herein is based on the official regulation published in the BOE. For specific advice on how this regulation affects your organization, consult with a legal professional specialized in sports law and education.