Regional Government already invested 32 million Euros in sports, says Avelino Meneses
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture defended in Angra do Heroísmo the need for closer relations between the regional business fabric and sports.
"In a society that should be more prosperous and independent, those involved in the area of sports cannot ignore the support of the business fabric, nor can economic agents waste the promotional component of sports," said Avelino Meneses.
Speaking at the 18th edition of the Azorean Sports Gala, the Regional Secretary stated that the Government of the Azores has invested more than 32 million Euros in the promotion of sport in the current term for being an "activity of all and for all."
The ceremony was held under the National Olympic Day celebrations in a partnership with the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo. On the occasion, he called for the "urgency" to put ethics in sport in the agenda of the media so that "future generations can bring more civility to all competitions."
Moreover, the government official emphasised that "the Azorean Sports Gala is, par excellence, the celebration of our physical activity in a competition context." In this regard, he recalled the recent participation of Azorean athletes in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Avelino Meneses expressed his belief that "the future will be even more promising," given the predictable generalisation of sports practice resulting from the growing participation of accredited athletes; the average participation of female athletes is higher the national average.
In this edition of the Gala, which celebrates the achievements of the 2017-2018 sports season, 85 award winners from the islands of Santa Maria, S. Miguel, Terceira, S. Jorge, Pico and Faial were honoured at the event.