LISBON – On 2 October, the 7th edition of the University Sports Gala took place, organized by the Portuguese Academic Federation of University Sport (FADU). In celebration of another university sports season, University of Minho and University of Coimbra were the big winners of the night. More than 250 people attended this event, held in the Thalia Theatre in Lisbon.
The University Sports Gala is an event considered by many as the culmination of all the good times of the season, honoring and recognizing those who contributed to the development of sports in the higher education.
Best of the Year Award
At the ceremony, three awards “Best of the Year” were won by the University of Minho. The award for “Best Coach of the Year” was awarded to Gabriel Oliveira, Handball Coach of the men’s team of Minho and he was also, this year, Head Coach of the National University team. Minho’s team was also the winner for “Best Male Team” after a brilliant season, winning for the sixth consecutive time the national university championship and for the third time the European Universities Championship.
Fabio Vidrago (U.Minho) was considered as the “Best Male Athlete”, after being National, European and World University Champion, and considered the Best Handball Player and Top Scorer of the 2nd European Universities Games (EUG).
Ethics Award
The award for “Best Female Athlete” was awarded to Ana Moura, Badminton athlete of the University of Coimbra, who won the title in team’s competition of National University Champion and the bronze individual medal at the 2014 EUGames in Rotterdam.
Coimbra also received the award for “Best Female Team” won by the Futsal team, National University Champion and Bronze medalist at the 2014 EUGames.
Carlos Magalhães, FISU Medical Committee member, receives the Prestige Award from FADU President Filipa GodinhoDuring the Gala the medalists of international events and the Organizing Committees of the five major sports events held this year in Portugal, both national and international, were also honored. This year, Portugal won six more medals in international competitions. Two gold medals by the National University Handball men’s team and the Minho’s Handball men’s team, one silver medal to André Pereira at the EUG Rowing competition, and three bronze medals, all won at EUG 2014, by the University of Porto Rugby women’s team, University of Coimbra Futsal women’s team and Ana Moura (U.Coimbra) in the Badminton individual competition.
FADU also attributed the Prestige Awards, highlighting, this time, the work of Carlos Magalhães, member since 2003 of FISU’s Medical Committee, and the two regional structures that organize the regional championships in Lisbon and Porto, respectively the Sports Association of Lisbon Higher Education (ADESL) and the Academic Federation of Porto (FAP).
International Awards
At this ceremony the Prize for Ethics in Sports was also awarded, in partnership with the National Plan for Ethics in Sport, to the volunteers of the five major competitions that took place in Portugal and the Portuguese volunteers that were at the EUGames 2014, for their work and dedication to the University Sports.
The 7th University Sports Gala was also the time to give the Trophy of “Best National University” to the University of Porto, which earned the best score in all the FADU competitions 2013/2014.
(Source: FADU)