Mari Carmen Izquierdo facts for kids

María del Carmen Izquierdo Vergara (born February 22, 1950 – died July 30, 2019) was a famous Spanish journalist. She was a true pioneer in sports journalism, especially for women.

About Mari Carmen Izquierdo

Early Life and Education

Mari Carmen Izquierdo was born in Lerma, Province of Burgos, Spain, on February 22, 1950. She later moved to Madrid to study. She graduated from the Official School of Journalism in Madrid.

A Pioneer in Sports Journalism

Mari Carmen's career was mostly about sports news. She was a real trailblazer for women in Spain. At a time when sports reporting was mostly done by men, she broke barriers. She showed that women could be excellent sports journalists too.

Starting Her Career

She began her work at the Diario AS sports newspaper. Just one year later, she joined Televisión Española (TVE), which is Spain's national TV channel.

Reporting on Television

Mari Carmen Izquierdo was the first woman in Spain to report on sports on television. From 1970 to 1972, she reported for the 24-hour news program on La 2 channel.

Later, she became a presenter for sports shows like Tiempo y marca and Estudio Estadio. In the late 1970s and especially in the 1980s, she was in charge of the Sports section for Telediario. This was the main news program on TVE.

Covering Big Events

During her career, she covered many major sports events. These included the Olympic Games, World Cups, and European Football Championships. She reported on many other sports too.

Working in Radio and Print

Radio Sports Chief

In 1987, Mari Carmen also worked in radio. She was named the Chief of Sports for Radiocadena Española.

Newspaper and Magazine Work

Besides TV and radio, she wrote for newspapers and magazines. She worked with Marca, Diario 16, Pueblo, and Informaciones. She was also the assistant director of Gráfico Deportivo magazine.

Later Career and Leadership Roles

Directing TV Programs

In the later part of her career, Mari Carmen took on leadership roles. For nearly ten years, she was the director of Executive Production for TVE Sports Programs. After that, she became the Deputy General Director of the ADO Plan. The ADO Plan helps prepare Spanish athletes for the Olympic Games.

Leading Sports Press

She also served as the President of the Spanish Association of the Sports Press. She held this important position from 1993 to 2013.

Awards and Honors

Mari Carmen Izquierdo received many awards for her work. One of them was the Silver Medal for Sports Merit. She also held other important positions. She was a member of the Governing Council of Quinielas. She was a Patron of the Foundation of the Professional Soccer League. She was also a member of the Spanish Olympic Committee. Additionally, she was a Jury member for the Princess of Asturias Awards for Sports, which are very prestigious awards in Spain.

Mari Carmen Izquierdo passed away in Madrid on July 30, 2019.