Portuguese Federation celebrates 75th anniversary with spectacular gala
News
The Portuguese Volleyball Federation organised this past Friday at a truly iconic location, the Cruise Terminal of the Port of Leixões in Matosinhos, a gala to celebrate their 75th anniversary and to honour all those who have contributed to the development of the sport across the country, in some cases through a whole lifetime dedicated to the sport. The Portuguese Volleyball Federation was established on April 7, 1947.
The 75th anniversary brought together members of the ‘Volleyball Family’ and featured honorary guests from other sectors of Portuguese society as well, thus showing how sport and culture intertwine and complement each other, thereby accounting for some 200 people in attendance.
Starting with the awards presented to the four Founding Associations of the Portuguese Volleyball Federation [Porto, Lisbon, Coimbra, and Madeira], the gala honoured, among others, “those who are the voice of the National Team”, meaning the captains and coaches of the National Teams, charismatic figures who have embodied Portuguese Volleyball on and off the court over the last 20 years.
The gala acknowledged referees and coaches of the clubs too, doing so through their respective associations, as well as the senior teams that, for their sportsmanship, received the Fair-Play Lidl Award (GC Vilacondense/Women) and Fair-Play Una Seguros Award (AA Espinho/Men). It also provided an opportunity to reward those who, “with their words and images”, have contributed to a greater visibility of the sport, meaning representatives of the media - television, radio, and the press.
In the final stages of the ceremony, the most prestigious award introduced by the Portuguese Volleyball Federation, the Osório Trophy, was presented as well. Taking good advantage of the special occasion, the Federation Board paid tribute to President Vicente Araújo.
These were the main highlights of the gala that preceded the cutting of the birthday cake and the official closing of a true family party.
