Spanish capital Madrid has been hailed as an example of a city which understands the importance of gyms and other physical activity facilities in the face of the pandemic, following a speech by one of its political leaders.

Ignacio Aguado – vice president of the Community of Madrid (Comunidad de Madrid) – outlined how it was "imperative" to continue supporting fitness facilities due to physical activity being "synonymous with health".

He said that having healthy citizens would help tackle obesity and sedentary lifestyles – which would in turn help manage key factors that make people more susceptible to the virus.

"Sport/physical activity is essential and a synonym to us of health," Aguado said.

"It is something we want to utilise in order to keep taking care of – and empowering – the community of Madrid.

"We do not want to close gyms, we want the opposite – we want them to stay open, to keep operating as they have been until now, maintaining all the hygiene and safety measures, because they are demonstrating they are safe places."

Aguado's speech has been welcomed by fitness operators not just in Spain but across the continent, as an example of a political leadership which "gets" the role that facility can play in improving health – and fighting COVID-19.