ADO was created with the aim of making available to Spanish athletes the necessary means to deliver a strong performance at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, laying a solid technical and organisational base to promote high-level competition after the Games.

CaixaBank will continue to serve as a sponsoring partner, the highest category of collaboration with the preparation of the Olympic team, having assumed that role in 1992.

The agreement between CaixaBank and the ADO plan was signed at the headquarters of the financial services company in Madrid.

Among those joining Blanco at the signing ceremony was CaixaBank President Jordi Gual.

Superior Council of Sports President José Ramón Lete and Radiotelevisión Española counterpart José Antonio Sánchez were also present.

"It is a great satisfaction to continue as a sponsoring partner of the programme, one of the companies most committed to Spanish sport," Blanco said.

"Proof of this is its relationship with ADO since 1993, as it was before with the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games of Barcelona 1992, and its famous and innovative initiative 'Book of Champions' by which the Spanish medallists of those Games receive economic aid when they reach their fiftieth year."

CaixaBank began its collaboration with Olympic sport at the 1988 Olympic Games in South Korea’s capital Seoul.

"The ADO plan represents the commitment and support to the promotion and development of elite sport in Spain, which has been firmly committed to CaixaBank for almost 30 years," Gual added.

"It is an excellent example of public-private collaboration for the benefit of the country and the brand Spain.

"Thanks to these financial aids, athletes and their coaches, especially in those disciplines with fewer resources, are rewarded for their efforts in the period between Games.

"Always with the final objective of being able to represent Spain in the next Olympic event."

Following the success of the Spain at Barcelona 1992 - where the country won 13 gold medals, seven silvers and two bronzes - it was decided the ADO would be continued.

The money that ADO receives from each sponsor mainly goes to scholarships for the support of elite Spanish athletes, providing them with ideal training conditions to reach optimum performance.