RIO MAIOR SPORTS CENTRE | ACTIVITY JUNE 26

RIO MAIOR SPORTS CENTRE | June 2026 Activity

June confirmed the Rio Maior Sports Centre as a leading venue for hosting major national and international sporting events, while maintaining an intense schedule of training camps and competitions across a wide range of sports.

1. Training Camps

In June, the Rio Maior Sports Centre hosted 803 athletes attending training camps, representing 10 sports and coming from 23 countries.
Monthly highlights:

• Throughout June, the Refereeing Academy of the Portuguese Football Federation held nine training courses for referees, assistant referees, and observers, involving around 350 participants.

• The beginning of the month was marked by several football training camps, including that of Clube Recreativo Desportivo Arrudense's Under-17 team, which trained in Rio Maior from 4 to 8 June.

• The Portuguese National Artistic Swimming Team held another training camp at the Rio Maior Sports Centre from 8 to 12 June in preparation for the European Championships in Paris. The group included nine athletes under the guidance of national head coach Maura Xavier.

• The top paratriathletes from the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation chose Rio Maior as their training base for much of June, preparing for international competitions held in Europe and the Americas.

• From 12 to 14 June, the Rio Maior High Performance Centre hosted another training camp for the Portuguese National Age Group Swimming Team, which was visited by the President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, Miguel Arrobas.

• The month ended with another national swimming training camp, this time involving the age group swimmers of Sporting Clube de Espinho, who trained in Rio Maior from 21 to 24 June.

2. Events

June was marked by the staging of major sporting events, with football, swimming, water polo, modern pentathlon, and athletics among the featured sports.

• On 6 June, the Susana Feitor Track at Rio Maior Municipal Stadium hosted the VS Solar Challenge – 11th Great Solar-Powered Car Race, organised by EPRM – Rio Maior Vocational School and VS Solar. Twenty-six vehicles built by students from 24 schools across the country took part.

• On the same day, the Rio Maior High Performance Centre hosted the Mega Jovem Grand Prix #5 & Modern Pentathlon Open, featuring highly competitive performances and an excellent standard of competition.

• On 13 and 14 June, the football pitches at the Rio Maior Sports Centre hosted the 18th Henrique Félix Tournament, organised by the Rio Maior Sporting Supporters' Club, bringing together more than 1,000 athletes from 70 teams across 10 age categories.

• Also that weekend, the Rio Maior Olympic Swimming Pool hosted another edition of the Inter-Regional Specialist Tournament, organised by the Santarém District Swimming Association with the support of the Municipality of Rio Maior and Desmor.

• Walking Football once again took centre stage on 18 June with a tournament bringing together eight Portuguese teams, including the Rio Maior Sporting Supporters' Club team, involving around 80 athletes.

• On 20 and 21 June, the Olympic Swimming Pool hosted the National Summer Adapted Swimming Championships, organised by the Portuguese Swimming Federation and bringing together the country's top athletes in the discipline.

• 20 June also featured the Summer Festival, marking the end of the sports season for the Rio Maior Municipal Swimming School and the Tennis and Padel School. Activities included water games, an aqua fitness class, a tennis tournament, and the traditional social lunch bringing together students, families, and the coaching staff.

3. The Best of Summer Happens in Rio Maior

The summer season officially began on 15 June, with the entire outdoor swimming pool complex at the Rio Maior Sports Centre opening to the public for another season of leisure and fun.

Visitors have access to several pools, ranging from the children's pool to the diving pool, complemented by a bar, terrace, and extensive lawn areas. The main new feature this season is the introduction of a dedicated pergola and sun lounger rental area, offering greater comfort and shade for visitors.

The venue also continues to provide a sand area for beach sports, including football, volleyball, and paddle games.


4. Croatia Wins the Under-18 Men's Water Polo World Championship in Rio Maior

The Under-18 Men's Water Polo World Championship, held at the Rio Maior Sports Centre from 27 June to 4 July 2026, concluded with Croatia claiming the title.

The final, played on 4 July, saw Croatia face the United States in a closely contested match that ended in a 14–14 draw. The world title was ultimately decided in a penalty shootout, with Croatia emerging as champions.

Over eight days of competition, the Rio Maior Olympic Swimming Pool hosted the largest sporting event ever held in the municipality, bringing together more than 400 young athletes representing 20 national teams from all five continents. The event also involved around 120 coaches, officials, and members of national and international organising bodies.

It is estimated that, including family members and supporters of the participating teams, the championship brought around 3,000 people to the region, generating a highly significant impact on the local economy and accommodation sector.

The medal ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Rio Maior, Filipe Santana Dias; the Deputy Mayor, João Lopes Candoso; the Chairman of the Board of Desmor, Miguel Pacheco; the President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, Miguel Arrobas; and the President of the Santarém District Swimming Association, João Loureiro.

The championship was organised by World Aquatics and the Portuguese Swimming Federation, with the support of the Municipality of Rio Maior, Desmor, and the Santarém District Swimming Association.

The successful staging of this competition once again reinforced Rio Maior's position as a leading international destination for hosting major sporting events and high-performance sport.