When most people look up at Mulhacén, they see the highest mountain on the Iberian Peninsula, a towering summit that rises 3,479 metres above sea level and tests even experienced hikers with its steep climbs, thin air and unpredictable conditions. One Murcian man, however, sees something very different: another finish line.

Francisco Pérez, better known as “Superpaco,” will attempt to climb Mulhacén, despite living with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects the movement and coordination of his legs. His challenge is about far more than reaching the summit, it is about proving that determination can carry people further than many believe possible.

A mountain with a message

At 43 years old, Superpaco has become a familiar face in Murcia’s adapted sports community, and his latest challenge will see him tackle the demanding ascent of Mulhacén on foot, supported by a team of companions who will help him maintain his balance across the mountain’s most difficult sections. Volunteers from the association Zancadas sobre Ruedas will also provide logistical support throughout the climb, ensuring he can concentrate on the demanding journey ahead.

For many climbers, reaching Mulhacén’s summit is a personal achievement, but for Superpaco the mountain represents something much bigger. He hopes his ascent will encourage children, young people and adults living with disabilities to believe that barriers are not always as immovable as they first appear. “I’m not climbing Mulhacén to prove I’m different,” he said ahead of the challenge. “I’m climbing it to show that we’re all capable of going much further than we believe.”

No stranger to breaking barriers

This is not the first time Superpaco has refused to let cerebral palsy define what he can achieve. He is the Spanish T71 Frame Running 100-metre champion, competing in a discipline designed for athletes with coordination and mobility impairments, and has already completed numerous sporting challenges, including reaching the summit of Revolcadores, the highest mountain in the Region of Murcia, as well as taking part in the TotalEnergies Maratón Murcia Costa Cálida.

Each challenge has carried the same message: physical limitations do not have to limit ambition. Mulhacén, however, represents his biggest test yet, demanding endurance, resilience and determination over one of mainland Spain’s most demanding mountain routes.

More than a climb

The expedition will also form part of the documentary Superpaco, héroes sin capa (Superpaco, Heroes Without a Cape), which follows his sporting journey and the people supporting him along the way. Photos and videos from the ascent are expected to be shared on social media, allowing supporters to follow his progress from the foothills to the summit of mainland Spain’s highest peak.

The documentary aims to draw attention to not only the physical challenge itself, but also the importance of inclusive sport, determination and the network of volunteers, family and friends who make challenges like this possible.

An inspiration beyond Murcia

Mulhacén has challenged mountaineers for generations, attracting thousands of walkers to the Sierra Nevada every year, but this week many people will be following the mountain for an entirely different reason. They will not be watching to see how quickly someone reaches the top, but to witness the determination it takes simply to begin a challenge that many would dismiss as impossible.

Whatever happens on the climb, Superpaco has already achieved something that cannot be measured in metres climbed or hours spent on the mountain. By choosing to take on one of the Iberian Peninsula’s toughest ascents despite the daily challenges of cerebral palsy, he is reminding people that courage is not depend on physical strength alone, but on the willingness to keep moving forward when every step demands more than most can imagine.

For those following his journey from Murcia and beyond, the most powerful part of this story may not be whether he reaches the summit. It is that he refused to let the mountain, or his disability, decide where his limits should be.

For years, Murcia football fans have dreamed of seeing the world’s biggest teams arrive on their doorstep. Now, while the region will not host an official World Cup match, it could still become part of football history. When the FIFA World Cup 2030 arrives in Spain, Murcia could find itself at the centre of the global tournament, with four facilities selected as proposed World cup base camps where national teams could train, prepare and live during the competition.  

It means that some of the biggest names in world football could swap stadium lights for Murcia sunshine, with elite players using the region’s facilities as their base while chasing the biggest prize in international football.

Four Murcia locations ready for the world’s best

The Region of Murcia has secured four proposed base camps for the 2030 World Cup, making it the Spanish province with the highest number of team base camps included in the proposal. 

The facilities are:

• Pinatar Arena Football Center in San Pedro del Pinatar 
• Grand Hyatt La Manga Club Resort in La Manga 
• DoubleTree by Hilton La Torre Golf & Spa Resort in Roldán 
• Alhama Arena Football Center in Alhama de Murcia 

These locations would not host competitive World Cup matches, but they could become temporary homes for international teams, providing training grounds, accommodation and preparation facilities throughout the tournament.  The final decision will depend on the FIFA evaluation process and, ultimately, the choices made by the participating national teams when selecting their preferred bases. 

A World Cup without matches, but with global attention

Murcia missed out on becoming one of Spain’s official match venues after its stadium bid was not selected, meaning fans in the region will not see World Cup fixtures played locally.  But the four proposed base camps could bring a different type of World Cup experience.

Instead of welcoming thousands of supporters for individual matches, Murcia could welcome some of the world’s greatest footballers for weeks at a time. Training sessions, team preparations, media attention and international visitors could place the region firmly in the global spotlight. For local businesses, tourism operators and football fans, the arrival of a national team could represent an opportunity that goes far beyond the 90 minutes played on the pitch.

Spain prepares to defend its crown

The 2030 World Cup will carry extra significance for Spain, with the national team entering the tournament as defending champions.  After lifting the trophy, the challenge will be even greater: trying to succeed on home soil while carrying the expectations of an entire country.

For Murcia, that adds another layer of excitement. The region could potentially find itself welcoming the team that arrives hoping to stop Spain’s title defence, or even hosting the next generation of stars looking to write their own World Cup story.

A chance to put Murcia on football’s map

The World Cup is one of the most watched sporting events on Earth, attracting billions of viewers and bringing international attention wherever it takes place. While Murcia will not have a stadium filled with fans watching a World Cup match, its role could still be significant.

A training base may happen away from the cameras, but it is where tournaments are often won and lost. Behind every trophy are weeks of preparation, tactical work and recovery, all carried out away from the spotlight. By 2030, Murcia could become the place where a football giant prepares for glory, the region may not host the final whistle, but it could play a key role before it is blown.

It is not usually the type of crime that brings images of dramatic police operations, but this summer in Lorca, the battle against theft has turned a humble fruit into the centre of a rural security operation. While some people may spend their summer searching for the perfect slice of cold watermelon to escape the heat, farmers in Lorca have a different concern: making sure their carefully grown crops actually make it from the field to the market.

With watermelon harvesting season underway, the Policía Local de Lorca has increased surveillance in agricultural areas to prevent thefts and protect local growers who have spent months caring for their crops. Because when a field full of ripe watermelons starts looking like an open-air supermarket with no checkout, farmers understandably want someone keeping an eye on the produce.

Police patrol fields as harvest season begins

The operation has seen officers increase their presence in rural areas across Lorca, carrying out specific controls around watermelon-growing zones. According to the Ayuntamiento de Lorca, Policía Local carried out 33 targeted controls linked to agricultural areas, identifying 261 people as part of the increased surveillance measures. 

The aim is simple: deter anyone tempted to take advantage of the busy harvest period and ensure farmers are not left counting missing melons instead of profits. For agricultural workers, a stolen watermelon may sound like a small loss compared with other types of crime, but for those who depend on farming, every crop represents months of work, investment and planning. A field full of fruit ready for collection can quickly become an attractive target for opportunistic thieves.

A sweet crop with serious value

Watermelons may be a symbol of summer, beach days and refreshing snacks, but behind every one is a serious agricultural business. Farmers must prepare the land, manage irrigation, protect plants from pests and wait months before finally seeing the results of their work.

That means losing even a portion of a harvest can have a significant impact, particularly when thefts happen repeatedly. The Policía Local operation comes as part of wider efforts to increase security in Lorca’s countryside, where officers regularly monitor agricultural areas during key harvesting periods.

More than just melon monitoring

Although watermelons are currently getting special attention, the latest operation forms part of a rural security campaign. During the week of increased controls, Policía Local carried out more than 100 checks across the municipality, resulting in seven arrests and various actions related to public safety, traffic and local regulations. But it is the watermelon patrols that have captured attention.

After all, it is not every day that a summer fruit becomes the subject of a police operation. The image of officers monitoring fields may sound unusual, but for farmers it is a welcome sight. A watermelon might be a refreshing treat for consumers, but in the field it represents time, effort and income.

Keeping the thieves out of the fruit bowl

Lorca’s watermelon watch despite how bizarre it sounds proves that agricultural theft does not always involve expensive machinery or large-scale operations. Sometimes it starts with someone deciding that taking “just a few” fruits from a field is harmless. For farmers, however, those missing watermelons quickly add up.

So while summer visitors may be thinking about finding the sweetest slice of the season, Policía Local de Lorca has another priority: making sure those watermelons are legally harvested, not casually collected by anyone passing through. This summer, the message from the fields is clear. The watermelons are growing, the farmers are working, and the police are watching.