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RIO MAIOR SPORTS CENTRE | ACTIVITY MAY 26
RIO MAIOR SPORTS CENTRE | May 2026 Activity
The month of May once again confirmed Rio Maior Sports Centre as a leading venue for training camps and the hosting of national and international sporting events, bringing together athletes, coaches, officials, and organizations from various sports.
1. Training Camps
In May, Rio Maior Sports Centre hosted 520 athletes in training camps, representing 11 sports and coming from 15 countries.
Highlights of the month:
• May was marked by the presence in Rio Maior of dozens of national and international athletes who chose the Training Centre to prepare for participation in the 33rd Rio Maior International Race Walking Grand Prix. Athletes from Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Greece, Sweden, Japan, and Ireland were in Rio Maior.
• The Portuguese National Artistic Swimming Team held another training camp at Rio Maior Sports Centre between April 29 and May 2, in preparation for the European Championships held in Paris. The group included nine athletes under the guidance of national head coach Maura Xavier.
• Between May 15 and 17, the Rio Maior High Performance Centre hosted the Portuguese Youth and Junior National Swimming Teams for a training camp that brought together 31 athletes.
• The Brazilian Paratriathlon Team continued its preparation in Rio Maior throughout May, reinforcing the connection between the Brazilian Triathlon Confederation and Rio Maior Sports Centre as a reference venue for the development of its athletes.
• Between May 22 and 24, another national swimming training camp took place, this time with the participation of 16 athletes from the Swim Together group.
The month of May was marked by a high level of competitive activity, with nationally significant events, particularly in race walking, football, gymnastics, athletics, basketball, and judo.
• On May 2 and 3, the Multi-Sports Pavilion hosted the National AS Individual Championship and the National Youth Team Judo Championship. Among the results achieved, special mention goes to Casa do Povo de Rio Maior athlete Aurora Ágoas, who won the bronze medal.
• Rio Maior Municipal Stadium once again hosted important football matches throughout the month. On May 10, SCU Torreense's women's team faced Damaiense, followed on May 11 by a Liga Revelação match between SCU Torreense U23 and Leixões SC. On May 16, Casa Pia AC hosted Rio Ave FC in another round of Liga Portugal.
• The highlight of the month took place on May 28 with the second play-off match between Casa Pia AC and SCU Torreense. In front of an excellent crowd, the home team secured a 2–0 victory, guaranteeing its place in Liga Portugal for the 2026/27 season.
• The 33rd Rio Maior International Race Walking Grand Prix took place on May 16, once again placing Rio Maior at the center of the global race walking scene. As part of the World Athletics Gold Level RW Event circuit within the World Race Walking Tour, the competition brought together some of the best international athletes in the discipline.
For the first time, the international competition was contested over the Half Marathon distance (21.1 km), replacing the traditional 20 km event. This development follows international trends in the sport and further strengthens Rio Maior's position as a world reference in race walking. The winners of the main races were Sweden's Perseus Karlström and Mexico's Alegna González.
This year's edition also included the National U18 and U20 Road Race Walking Championships, reinforcing the event's connection to the development of young national athletes.
The event was organized by the Municipality of Rio Maior, Desmor, the Portuguese Athletics Federation, and the Rio Maior Swimming Club, with the support of the Santarém Athletics Association.
• Gymnastics was also in the spotlight on May 17 with the 3rd Gymnastics Tournament of the Rio Maior Academic and Sports Association, aimed at developmental and youth categories. The event attracted strong participation from both athletes and spectators.
• Athletics competitions returned to the Susana Feitor Track on May 24 and 25 with the U16 District Championships, organized by the Santarém Athletics Association with the support of Desmor.
• Between May 22 and 24, the Albino Maria Auditorium hosted the second phase of the Potential Talent Program, an initiative promoted by the Portuguese Basketball Federation with the objective of identifying, developing, and supporting young referees with potential for progression within the sport.
• The month concluded with the presentation of the Liga INATEL Futsal Santarém championship sashes to the NSRM / RMTEAM team, in a ceremony held at the Sports Pavilion as part of an afternoon dedicated to futsal that featured the participation of several regional teams.
3. Portuguese Society of Sports Medicine Training Session
The Portuguese Society of Sports Medicine (SPMD) chose the Rio Maior Sports Centre, for the third consecutive year, to host a practical session integrated into its Postgraduate Course in Sports Medicine.
The session took place on May 9 and was intended for physicians enrolled in the postgraduate program, making use of various facilities at the Rio Maior Training Centre, namely the Albino Maria Auditorium and the physiotherapy rooms.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Desmor, Miguel Pacheco, attended the opening session, thanking the SPMD for its continued trust in the Rio Maior Sports Centre and wishing all participants every success.
SPMD is a scientific society dedicated to promoting and disseminating knowledge in the field of Sports and Exercise Medicine, regularly organizing advanced training activities for physicians and other professionals working in the health and sports sectors.
