The 11th Azorean Sports Gala will take place at the Silveira and Almagreira Social, Cultural and Recreational Centre, Pico island, on April 3.

113 prizes will be delivered to Azorean athletes and club for their results achieved in 2011 at the 11th edition of the Azorean Sports Gala.

At the press conference for the presentation of this Gala, the Regional Secretary for Education and Training noted the significant investment made by the Government of the Azores in the development of sports in the Azores, an investment "with a considerable return as evidenced by the international projection of our results and the achievement of the Region at the highest levels."

For Claudia Cardoso, "speaking today of Sport in the Azores is not just speaking of clubs and associations or of a specific sport. Nowadays, speaking of sport in the Azores is to be proud of high sports indicators and significant sports participation rates. These sports achievements have raised the Azores to prominence beyond borders and our national champions are a source of pride."

One should recall that the practice of sport in the Region comprises 13 sports, from sailing to the football and the nature exploration.
On the other hand, the Regional Government has also focused on the "development of sports policy to promote equal access of citizens to sport," as demonstrated by the investment in adapted sport, which has registered a remarkable development with the "organisation of the 2nd World Athletics Championship for Athletes with Down Syndrome."

Cláudia Cardoso mentioned the most recent national data on sport which indicated the existence of 22 thousand Azorean athletes belonging to sports associations, which corresponds to the highest participation rate of athletes belonging to sports associations nationwide (9%).

This level of sports practice, "is the result of the efforts of over 250 regional clubs across the archipelago that work hard and their dedication to sport; they know that they may count on Government's support and its sports development policy."

Recalling that 2011 was a year in which Azorean sport " exceeded expectations by far", Cláudia Cardoso stressed several national champion titles either in individual and collective sports "with special emphasis to: senior men's volleyball championship by Associação de Jovens da Fonte do Bastardo; senior women's volleyball championship by Clube Desportivo Ribeirense, which also won the Portugal cup; national men's table tennis championship by Grupo Desportivo do Salão Recreativo os Toledos and the 3rd place won by Candelária Sport Clube in the European League that also participated in the Portugal Cup final."

"In addition to the usual national champion titles in several individual sports, the Azores won the national rally championship for the first time."

The government official also highlighted the fact that highest number ever of awards in the "personality" category, hence "evidencing the dedication of sports agents, leaders, coaches, referees and other technical staff in the promotion of sport."

Finally, Cláudia Cardoso noted that over nine hundred prizes have been delivered throughout the eleven editions of the Azorean Sports Gala, which demonstrates "the evolution of Azorean sport and the recognition that the Regional Government has been able to put into practice for all those who give their best to the development of sport on a daily basis."

The eleventh edition of the Azorean Sports will award 19 prizes in the "personality" category, 3 prizes in "entities" category, 42 prizes to athletes and clubs for their national results and classifications as well international participations, 28 trophies for the participation in national and international competitions at the service of the Portuguese national team and 1 prize in the "Adapted Sport" category.