The Enrique Fernández Martínez Sports Complex in León, Guanajuato, a historic venue inaugurated in 1963, now hosts over 2 million users annually and supports 36 sports disciplines. This esteemed complex has produced top athletes and hosted significant events, including the International Children’s Games.
León, Guanajuato – The 56th edition of the International Children’s Games has an official venue steeped in tradition, renewed, and ready to continue writing golden pages in the municipality’s sports history.
Popularly known as the “Deportiva del Estado,” it was inaugurated on January 13, 1963, and received its name because it initially served as the State Delegation of the Sports Confederation (CODEME), led by Professor Sabino Rodríguez.
Ten years later, CODEME Guanajuato transformed this complex into a High-Performance Center where athletes prepared for their national and international competitions.
On October 5, 2006, the León City Council approved the Sports and Physical Culture Regulations for the Municipality of León, establishing the Municipal Commission for Sports and Physical Culture of León (COMUDE LEÓN).
At its inauguration, this sports complex featured football fields, a track and field stadium with grass and stands, a basketball auditorium, multi-purpose outdoor courts, a skating rink, a semi-Olympic swimming pool with a diving pit and platform, playgrounds, and recreational areas.
Currently, the Enrique Fernández Martínez Sports Complex welcomes over 2 million users annually and offers facilities for 36 sports disciplines, including football, swimming, athletics, basketball, boxing, fencing, gymnasium, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic and aerobic gymnastics, taekwondo, karate do, wushu kungfu, capoeira, ballet, rifle shooting, flag football, handball, tennis, skating, and fitness, among others.
This complex has also been the birthplace of many top León athletes, such as Arturo “Mano Santa” Guerrero, who trained here for the Mexico City Olympic Games.
It has also been home to Mexican Olympians like diver Laura Sánchez, swimmer Alfredo Jacobo, boxer José Luis Zertuche, diver Francisco Pérez, sport shooter Roberto Elías, marathon runner Daniel Vargas, volleyball player Jorge Quiñones, and cyclist Ignacio Prado.
Currently, it is the training ground for sprinter Cecilia Tamayo and swimmer Celia Pulido, both set to represent Mexico at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Over its 61-year history, the sports complex has hosted major national and international events, including the National Friendship Games, National Olympiads, Independence Marathon, North American, Central American, and Caribbean Games, and now, the International Children’s Games.
