The Municipality of Odemira promoted the 1st Sports Gala of Odemira, at night 3 December 2022, no Cineteatro Camacho Costa, with the objective of rewarding athletes, clubs and associations that throughout the year worked towards the sporting development of the county.
It was an emotional night of homage to all those who practice a modality, in the identity of a club and in favor of the territory, achieved meritorious sporting results, recognizing the vital importance of Sport in the health and well-being of the community.
Helder Warrior, Mayor of Odemira, explained that it is intended “recognize and reward merit, the example and excellence in sport” and that this initiative “is a tribute to all those who dedicate themselves to sport on a daily basis, and to whom we owe the greatest respect, from the athletes, treinadores, leaders and families”, leaving a word of thanks to everyone “because promoting Sport is promoting quality of life.”
The Sports Gala was attended by the Alentejo Regional Director of the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth, Miguel Rasquinho, and the President of the Municipal Assembly of Odemira, Ana Aleixo.
In this 1st Gala, prizes were awarded, distinctions and recognitions, into three categories: Federated Sport, Merit and Distinction.
The Gala began with the delivery of 28 diplomas in the field of Federated Sport, awarded to athletes in recognition of sporting performance, participating in the Olympic Games, World Championships, international and European and national champions and runners-up.
In the Merit category, there was 9 awards with three nominees chosen by a Commission from among the applications submitted: Club of the Year Award, Sports Project Award, School Sports Award, Team of the Year Award, Revelation Sportsman Award, Female Sportswoman of the Year Award, Male Sportsman of the Year Award, Coach of the Year Award and Manager of the Year Award. The nominees were put to a vote., having been the population of Odemir to choose the winners.
For the end was the Distinction category, with the attribution of Sports Merit Awards to four personalities who in the previous sports season had relevant results in regional competitions, national or international.
In addition to awards and honors, the 1st Sports Gala also staged culture and three young artists from Odemir, in three special moments with the performance of accordionist António Ledo, da ballerina Valeria Polakova, refugee from Ukraine who is part of Grupo Vis a Vis, and Mariana Martins, the first woman with a degree in Portuguese guitar and teacher of this instrument.
Note also for 9 trophies handed out to winners and honorees, produced by The Carpentry Club carpentry, a young company from the Parish of São Teotónio, who accepted the challenge of creating unique and distinctive handcrafted pieces.
Category “Federated Sport” Alfonso Silva – Cycling – Kelly Simoldes UDO, Miguel Sena – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Gonçalo Tomás – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Nuno Silva – Canoeing – Milfontes Nautical Club, Mário Oliveira – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Diogo Campos – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Inês Esteves – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, José Santos – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Margarida Ludovino Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Erica Garcia – Canoeing – Nautical Club of the Alentejo Coast, Nuno Brandão – Canoeing – Milfontes Nautical Club, Sergio Jesus – Canoeing – Milfontes Nautical Club, Tiago Sobral – Canoeing – Milfontes Nautical Club, Nuno burst – Canoeing – Milfontes Nautical Club, Fernando Encarnação – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Mario Mathiotte – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Gonçalo Cabral – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Joana Gonçalves – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Mariana Viana – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Margarida Santos – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, daisy cuts – Canoeing – Odemirense Fluvial Club, Matias Spleen – Bodyboard – Zambujeira do Mar Bodyboard Center, Peter Knight – Athletics – Sport and Cultural Center of Odemira, LicÃnio Matos – Athletics – Sport and Cultural Center of Odemira, Ana Lourenço – Athletics – Sport and Cultural Center of Odemira, Antonio Pais – Sport fishing – wind roses, José Pacheco – Sport fishing – wind rose, Diogo Queimada – SUP Wave – Foz do Mira Association
Category Awards Assignment “Merit” Club of the Year Award- Winner: Sport Club Odemirense, Sports Project Award- Winner: Canoeing School Sports Protocol / Odemirense Fluvial Club, School Sports Award- Winner: Beatriz José Lourenço Silva Athletics / Savoy School Grouping, Team of the Year Award- Winner: Sport Clube Odemirense Junior Football Team, Revelation Sportsman Award- Winner: Maria Margarida Norte Silva / Handball / cautchu, Sportsman of the Year Award (Female)- Winner: Ana Margarida Lourenço / Athletics / Sport and Cultural Center of Odemira, Male Sportsman of the Year Award- Winner: José Ferreira Athletics / Sport and Cultural Center of Odemira, Coach of the Year Award- Winner: Inês Esteves Canoeing Coach / Clube Náutico do Litoral Alentejano and Manager of the Year Award- Winner: Inês Correia – Sport Club Odemirense
Prize award “Sports Merit” from category “Distinction” Alfonso Silva, Cycling – Kelly Simoldes UDO, Joao Nunes, Sport fishing – São Miguel Fishing and Hunting Sports Club, José Poeira, Cycling – National Coach and Pedro Gonçalves, Football – Sport Club Odemirense, Captain of the Senior Football Team and 29th season representing Sport Clube Odemirense
