PORTUGAL TO HOST THE CONTINENTAL EUROPE CONGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SPORT PERFORMANCE CENTRES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2026

On September 30, it was announced in Helsinki, during the XIV International Forum on Elite Sport of the Association of Sport Performance Centres (ASPC), that the bid submitted by the Rio Maior Sports Centre was the winner to host the Continental Europe Congress 2026.

This will be the first ASPC Congress ever held in Portugal, a milestone that reinforces Rio Maior's position in the European high-performance sports landscape. In 2026, the city will become the meeting point for leaders and representatives of Europe's main High-Performance Centres, in a unique moment of knowledge sharing, exchange of best practices, and strategy setting for the future of high-performance sport.

"The hosting of this event represents international recognition of the work carried out in this sector and of Rio Maior's strategic role as a hub of sporting excellence." — Miguel Pacheco, Chairman of the Board — Rio Maior Sports Centre.

This Congress will be jointly organized by the Rio Maior Sports Centre and the Sports Foundation, with the support of the Municipality of Rio Maior.

Rio Maior, October 2, 2025