PORTUGUAL´S OLYMPIC AMBITION STARTED IN RIO MAIOR

The project “Olympic Ambition” was presented on friday March 16 in Rio Maior  to promote the national identity and emphasize the Olympic spirit in time of Olympic Games in London 2012.

This project has the support of the portuguese government, represented during the ceremony by the Adjunct  Minister and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Miguel Relvas.

The project’s purpose is also the promotion of national and international High Performance Sports Centers as an attractive offer for the preparation of Olympic athletes all around the world.

Five Portuguese High Performance Centers are associated with this promotion:

Rio Maior – Swimming

Anadia – Cycling, Fencing, Gym and Judo

Caldas da Rainha – Badminton

Jamor (Lisbon) – Tennis

Montemor O Velho – Nautic Sports

The Minister, Miguel Relvas associated himself “on behalf of the Government to this private initiative to increase and disclose the principles of the Olympic Spirit and to promote our athletes who will compete in London." Referring to High Performance Centers Miguel Relvas declared that "are nowadays sought by foreign coaches and athletes for stages due to the exceptional conditions in different modalities. I take this opportunity to commend the effort of  the involved local authorities, even in time of crisis,  consolidating the good image of Portugal. We are all very proud about it.  The Government will continue to contribute with the national and international promotion of the High Performance Centers, believing that those will remain sources of inspiration for new successes of national athletes in sports at the highest level. "

This initiative has the support of the Olympic Committee of Portugal and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sport. This is the first project of the National Identity, being Luis Segadães promoter and organizer of the “Olympic Ambition”.

This presentation was preceded by the second Olympic Mission meeting, which took place in the Sports Centre. Sport federations presidents as well as some of the portuguese athletes and coaches already qualified for the Olympic Games in London were in Rio Maior. Ex-athletes such as the Olympic Champions Carlos Lopes, Rosa Mota, Fernanda Ribeiro were also in the Rio Maior Sports Centre.