The annual Portuguese University Sports Gala had a special edition this year. To celebrate the 25th anniversary, the Portuguese Academic University Sports Federation (FADU) has honoured 25 personalities and institutions that made part of the last 25 years, since its foundation.

On the invitation of FADU, the European University Sports Association (EUSA) was represented by its President, Mr Adam Roczek, and Secretary-General, Mr Matjaz Pecovnik. EUSA was called to receive one of the honours for recognizing FADU as the legit representative of the Portuguese university sports.



Later, the medallists of the 2015 European Universities Championships and of the 28th Summer Universiade received the awards from Mr Adam Roczek and Mr Claude-Louis Gallien, President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU).



The best athletes, teams and coach of the year were also known. University of Porto was the main winner of the night, with the prizes of the best male athlete, female team and coach. It also won the trophy for being the University with the higher final ranking.



This year’s Gala introduced a new award for the promotion of Dual Careers. Promoted by FADU and Jogos Santa Casa, the student-athlete that has successfully combined the studies with the sports career won an annual scholarship. The winner was Tiago Gomes, student of the 5th year of Medicine in University of Minho, player of football that this year wins the national university championship and was bronze in EUC and Taekwondo athlete.



The president of FADU Ms Filipa Godinho centered her speech in the urgent needs of university sports, stating “It is urgent to consider measures such as the inclusion of sport as a weighting factor for the rankings of higher education institutions, an awareness of the sports system of the capital gains and contributions of university sport or a real framework of what is a student-athlete in higher education”.



Mr Roczek also had a brief speech where he recognized the importance of the Portuguese university sports in the European context. Being twice the winner of the Most Active NUSA, it is important that FADU continues working and rewarding the ones who contribute daily for the university sports reality. In the end, the president of EUSA presented a gift to Ms Godinho for the FADU 25th anniversary.



During the morning, Mr Roczek was also a speaker in the FADU Forum, on the panel discussion about Dual Careers and the statute of student-athlete. Together with Mr Gallien, Mr Carlos Paula Cardoso, President of the Portuguese Sports Confederation, and Rui Bragança, winner of the silver medal in Taekwondo in 28th Summer Universiade and gold in Baku Games, they emphasized in the importance of dual careers and compared the reality of student-athletes in different countries.



The 2-day Forum also included other interesting presentations and open debates at which university sport officials, as well as their counterparts from other organisations participated.

For more information, please see www.fadu.pt.