On 21st of November, Convento de São Francisco, in Coimbra, hosted the biggest University Sports Gala organized by the Portuguese Academic Federation of University Sport (FADU), paying tribute to the universe of student-athletes who were the most successful in the 2022/2023 season.

The University Sports Gala is an event considered by many as the culmination of all the good times of the season, honouring and recognizing those who contributed to the development of sports in the higher education.

This 14th edition of FADU Spots Gala was the place where the medal winners at the World University Games and European Universities Championships, and awarding prizes for Female Athlete of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year, were honoured.

Individual student-athletes were awarded and honoured for their significant performance at the European University Championships 2023 organized by the European University Sport Association (EUSA) and many local organising committees.

In a year in which Portuguese university sport celebrated several achievements and broke records in terms of participants, this University Sports Gala, paid tribute to the universe of student-athletes who made the 2022/2023 season one of the best ever for university sport in Portugal with a record seven medals (3 gold and 4 silver) at the Chengdu World University Games in China and 23 medals at the European University Championships. 

The event was attended by the president of the FADU Portugal University, Ricardo Nora, who praised the achievements of university sport over the last year, especially at the World University Games, the President of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth (IPDJ), Vítor Pataco, and the General Director of the Directorate General for Higher Education, Joaquim Mourato.

João Coelho, from the University of Lisbon and Mariana Machado, from the University of Minho, both in athletics, were voted athletes of the year.

Bruno Fernandes, coach of the women's futsal team from the University of Lisbon, received the coach of the year award. From the same University, the women's futsal team received the team of the year trophy.

In addition to the trophies awarded to the year's best, the University Club Trophy was also presented to the University of Porto and the PNED 'Research into Ethics in Sport' award went to Phillipe Marracho, from the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro. The Sports Ethics in University Sport award, instituted by FADU since 2012, went to the University of Madeira Students Union and the Madeira Basketball Association.

This year's Gala also awarded, for the first time, a prize as part of the "Challenge the Numbers!" campaign to the club that stood out most in promoting gender equality, presented to NOVA University Lisbon. Also for the first time, certificates of participation were awarded to the FADU clubs that took part in the 1st edition of the National University E-sports Championships.

A day before the Gala, the General Assembly of the Academic Federation of University Sports (FADU) took place in the Student Hub Auditorium of the University of Coimbra, which aimed to formalize the Inauguration of the delegates, elected and appointed, who constitute the General Assembly for 2022-2024, and also the vote on the Activity Plan and Budget for 2024.

In this way, FADU's Activity and Budget Plan (PAO) for 2024 was duly presented and approved with the majority of votes in favour by the delegates present.

The location of the next General Assembly was also voted on, which will take place in the Algarve, together with the Academic Association of the University of Algarve.

For more information, please see https://www.fadu.pt/