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Matosinhos hosted the Award Ceremony Sports + Accessible 2025

Updated : 12/11/2025

Group of people positioned on stage, forming a line. In the center, some hold certificates and plates with visible text. A person is sitting in a wheelchair in front of the group, also with a sign. On the left, flags are visible, including that of Portugal. In the background is a light-coloured curved wall and a partially visible blue screen.

On November 6, the Noble Hall of the Municipality of Matosinhos received the Award Ceremony Sports + Accessible and Honourable Mentions, an initiative that distinguishes projects that promote inclusion through physical and sports activity.

The 4th edition of the Prize, organised by the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR) and the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth (IPDJ), was supported by the Municipality of Matosinhos – European City of Sport 2025 – and partners such as Decathlon Portugal and Pista Mágica.

The session began with a musical moment starring Paulo Cepeda of APPACDM de Matosinhos, who played “Fado da Esperança” by Carlos Mendes.

This was followed by the opening session, where Luísa Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos, highlighted “being an honour for Matosinhos, as the European City of Sport 2025, to host this ceremony celebrating inclusion. Sport is everyone’s right and must be accessible to every citizen.”

Ricardo Gonçalves, President of the IPDJ Board of Directors, stressed that “this award is a clear sign of our commitment to equal opportunities. We want everyone, regardless of their abilities, to find a space for participation and well-being in sport.”

After the welcome, the project IDI4Sport – Inclusion and disability in and through sport was presented by Alcídio Jesus, Senior Technician of the Northern Regional Directorate of the IPDJ.

This was followed by a reflection on Good Inclusion Practices, with the participation of Bárbara Pereira, responsible for the project Sexto Sentido (winner of the 2024 edition) and Odete Fiúza, from the INR Research, Training and Development Unit.

Subsequently, Marisa Lopes (INR) and Ana Pacheco (IPDJ) presented the 4th edition of the Sports + Accessible Award, before the revelation of the distinguished projects.

The big winner was the “Joga Simples” project by the Associação Joga Simples, which received a prize totalling €7 000, awarded by INR and IPDJ and Decathlon, plus specialised consultancy, by Pista Mágica.

Tiago Maia, President of the Association, said in an emotional speech that "this award is an incentive to continue simplifying access to adapted sport in Portugal. We want no one to be left out.”

Three reference projects were awarded honourable mentions:

  • “Surf Healing – Sea Therapy” (Association Surf Healing), in the area of training;

  • “Blue Equipments” in the area of accessibility and support products;

  • “Abrantes Sport Inclusive” (Municipality of Abrantes), in the area of sports development.

Each honorable mention was accompanied by the delivery of vouchers offered by Decathlon Portugal and Pista Mágica, with the presence of Leandro Sá, representative of Declatlhon and Sónia Fernandes, of Pista Mágica.

The ceremony ended with the interventions of Sónia Esperto, President of the Board of Directors of the INR, and Nuno Matos, Councilor of Sport of the Municipality of Matosinhos, underlining the importance of cooperation between entities to make sport truly inclusive.

With this initiative, we reinforce our commitment to promoting equal opportunities, inclusion and quality of life through sport.