Escape to victory,

The title of the 1981 film, Escape to Victory, based on true events, shows what a group of people, united by a common goal, is able to achieve through effort and teamwork.

In the practice of exercise or sports within prison, both concepts must be considered: the first is physical and mental evasion; the second is victory, which ultimately consists of the desire for personal improvement that is present in the life of every human being.

Most of the time, when sports are discussed, the first thing that comes to mind is the elite player, advertising, television, and everything related to success. The European Charter of Sport defines them as: “All forms of physical activities that, through organized or non-organized participation, aim at the expression or improvement of physical and mental condition, the development of social relationships, or achieving results in competition at all levels.”

We must also not forget the Olympic principles, such as solidarity, the spirit of friendship, and fair play, values that are not only compatible but also necessary.

The practice of sports and physical exercise within the prison should be seen and understood as a tool to achieve mental balance, as well as its multiple benefits for the health of inmates. If we define the term health, according to the WHO “it is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” People who would never have considered engaging in physical activity systematically and periodically outside create a routine aimed at strengthening. This can range from the most basic and common such as walking around the yard, to more advanced activities such as weightlifting and muscle exercises. What is evident is that all physical activity should be aimed at instilling new values, standards, and behaviors among the inmate population that are characteristic of discipline and that will be useful in their future life in freedom. It is a very important tool in social rehabilitation. Although once returned to their daily life outside, they may abandon the practice of exercise. It is well known that many inmates lack control over their lives and expect the prison administration to make decisions for them, creating a passive environment around them, with no desire to adapt to their surroundings. Whether physical activity is done individually or collectively is irrelevant. What should be attempted in most cases is to increase self-esteem and personal achievement levels. This is more evident in team activities, as individuals are forced to rely on their teammates when they have a common goal.

Another astonishing thing in the prison is how chess, considered a sport by the International Olympic Committee, is so widely practiced in all modules. A redesign of the gymnasiums in the modules is necessary. Each module has two general outings to the sports complex regularly, according to a weekly schedule, where all inmates can attend, provided they wear sports clothing. A simple way to classify users could be into two categories: young and old. Younger people usually have a greater habit of engaging in physical activities, either individually or collectively. But they also need more resources such as a better-equipped gym and more practice hours. The limited space dedicated to gyms in the modules hinders performance. For older individuals, facilities are often less necessary, as sports instructors tell us that their activity usually consists of walking, stretching, or playing petanque. However, it is essential for the module’s technical team to get involved and organize, in collaboration with the prison’s sports department, outings to the football field, tennis courts, or any other facility where more activities can be carried out; in dimensions more suitable for physical activity. It is important to mention that simply leaving the module can give a greater sense of freedom, especially given the location of the Center and the views of the Madrid mountains, which help to momentarily escape from the surroundings. The same happens with the tennis court and the fronton, which only a few inmates had access to a few years ago, those from the nursing module, and now that they have been fixed and remodeled, they are being used more often. The scheduled outings Also, outings to the Sierra de Madrid in collaboration with the Red Cross through the “BASURALEZA” program are organized quite frequently, where inmates can share a day of direct contact with nature and help collect waste left behind by some visitors. “It’s not that the experience is worth it, but it’s a way to appreciate a day of leisure in nature, while helping to preserve the environment,” say some inmates who have participated in these activities. Cultivating the body is cultivating the mind. Often when entering prison, healthy habits and an orderly life are not established. Waking up at the same time every day, personal hygiene, and participation in module life make you more responsible and help you acquire more social values. The big question, unfortunately without a clear answer, is: Is there more sports practiced among the inmate population or in society in general? That is the question that specific prison programs try to answer and are mainly divided into two branches: recreational, aimed at all inmates, and competitive, which includes a more motivational element and where competitions of different levels and sports are developed. But both should aim at what has been said: cultivating the body is cultivating the mind. In addition to the reeducational role that physical activity and sports must play in the prison setting, with clear benefits (occupying free time, counteracting the more than 15 hours of confinement in the cell, physical improvement, development of self-control skills and acquisition of social norms). But as always, not everything can be good, many inmates complain that, more often than desired, some weeks they find their outings to the sports complex limited without prior notice and without explanation because the facilities are closed. At most, they receive a brief “there is no officer.” For any activity to be carried out, an appropriate environment (facilities) must be created, and professionals who can help and support the execution of the various programs.

Within the sports activities that can be carried out within the prison, we could classify them as: free practice, directed sports, and scheduled outings.

Therefore, we conclude that sports within a correctional facility is an educational, reeducational, and therapeutic activity, so if well planned and organized, it is one of the easiest treatment activities to implement. Always, as long as there are necessary facilities and resources, and at the same time, inmates are encouraged to participate regularly and consistently. Last but not least, the framing work of all these activities by the sports coordinators of the facility must be highlighted. These activities have a transversal development, as they affect all modules and require monitoring and control work, providing them with the necessary resources that may be needed and that are within reach to carry them out satisfactorily, while promoting new initiatives, often requested by the inmates themselves.