José Antonio, Pedro and Rebeca have big dreams. And nothing stops them from pursuing them. What makes you keep going despite the difficulties? How have their lives improved since the illusion? What is your biggest challenge? The three young people are the protagonists of Fanáticos de lo Real, an inspiring documentary promoted by Burger King Spain that recounts the day-to-day life of these young people with intellectual disabilities who, with hours of effort and an unconditional environment, are capable of achieving everything that is propose.
The stories of José Antonio Carmona, 22, from Córdoba, Pedro Payares, 21, from Cádiz, and Rebeca García, 18, from Valencia, are an example for many people who seek to have fun, get excited and, above all, improve themselves: because this means be a fan of the real thing. As shown on screen, the three are clear about what their true passion is and do not hesitate to face any obstacle that stands in their way to achieve it. Because nobody beats them in effort.
This is the case of one of the protagonists, Rebeca. At just 18 years old, she has become the only female player of the Valencia Genuine football club and the first player with an intellectual disability of Sporting de Xirivella, in which she is the top scorer. Her effort and her perseverance lead her to overcome any barrier on a daily basis, in sports and in her life. Her story is worth listening to:
For Rebeca, soccer, of which she has been a fan since she was a child, helps her show her worth and not feel less than the rest. Her work is constant, even in difficult times, like when she suffered a serious knee injury. Recovering from the operation and getting back on the pitch has been her main goal for months. Rebeca, who doesn't feel different from the others, enjoys having the ball at her feet and being the goalscorer for her team. Her talent and passion are not lacking, nor is the support of her colleagues.
In addition to the voice of the protagonists, the audiovisual piece includes the revealing testimony of their closest environment, family and friends who highlight the vitality of these three young people from LaLiga Genuine Santander, a pioneering soccer tournament in the world for people with intellectual disabilities, who understand difficulties as an opportunity.
Burger King Spain, a company that belongs to Restaurant Brands Iberia, presented the documentary at the Luchana Theaters in Madrid. The event was attended by Gregorio Jiménez, president of RB Iberia; Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga; numerous familiar faces, relatives and friends of the protagonists; the Genuine football clubs in which they play as well as others in the competition, such as Fundación Atlético de Madrid, CD Leganés, Fundación Rayo Vallecano or Getafe CF, and associations for physical and intellectual disabilities, such as Special Olympics Madrid.
“I am especially proud of this documentary, because the protagonists are the reflection of many people who also seek to improve themselves every day. Our commitment is to help make different realities visible through real stories that can inspire and help many people”, said Gregorio Jiménez, president of RB Iberia, during the premiere. "Our aspiration as a company is to be able to continue accompanying many more people to pursue their dreams," Jiménez added.
For Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga and one of the attendees at the premiere, the documentary “perfectly reflects the enthusiasm with which we created this league six years ago. Thanks to Burger King for making it possible and for continuing to demonstrate their commitment to the players in this competition. Together we are taking an important step towards equal opportunities in the socio-labour field, but also in other types of opportunities, such as those that have been given in this work, of a cultural and artistic nature”.
The audiovisual piece has been produced by Burger King Spain in collaboration with TBS (Tech Brands Stories) and OmnicomPR Brand Solutions. The documentary can be seen on Movistar Plus and on the @BurgerKingEspana YouTube channel.
The documentary is part of the social project Fanáticos de lo Real that Burger King created with the aim of reinforcing its commitment to inclusion and diversity. For the president of RB Iberia, this project translates into “real facts and concrete things. That is really integration, and that is the push that all companies have to give”.
And it is that 92% of people with intellectual disabilities in Spain between the ages of 16 and 24 are unemployed, according to data from the INE Employment and Disability Survey. In this sense, Burger King has been developing various projects for several years to promote integration through sport. Among them, a socio-labour agreement signed with LaLiga stands out, through which the company hires LaLiga Genuine Santander players to work in its restaurants and offices, thus offering them a job, which in many cases is the first contact with the working world.
Going to a job enriches their day to day performing tasks as diverse as those of their colleagues. For the families, the fact that these young people have this responsibility outside of their protection helps them to be more self-sufficient and improve their self-esteem. Both they and their environment have seen how working improves their lives. Over time, many of them have managed to evolve in their jobs —from not knowing how to cook to being the ones who control the grill— and strengthen their relationship with others, since they are always willing to help them by promoting teamwork.
