Since Sunday, Famalicão has been hosting the biggest Atlantic Axis Games ever. Almost 2,400 participants, including athletes, delegates and coaches, representing 27 municipalities from Galicia and northern Portugal, have been competing since Sunday, divided between the cities of Famalicão and Braga, which are jointly promoting this edition of the games.
"Promotion and co-operation between peoples and territories is one of the causes of the Atlantic Axis association and these games are a good example of this," said Mário Passos, referring to the partnership with the city of Braga and its large participation in this 2024 edition.
At the ceremony, the Secretary of State for Sport praised the merits of the competition, which uniquely involves so many athletes. "Sport is the way that unites us and that's why we're here, in an event that is unique in Europe, which mirrors the principles of the association of cities, which here, through sport, strengthen the bonds between citizens," said Pedro Dias.
At the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Atlantic Axis Games, organised jointly by Famalicão and Braga, the Mayor of Braga, Ricardo Rio, praised this partnership, as well as the fact that it was the edition with the largest number of participants, "an unequivocal demonstration of the strength of the Atlantic Axis and the ability we have to work together and mobilise for common projects (...) the ability to blur borders and cultural differences".
The official start of the Atlantic Axis Games was also marked by a tribute to Luís Silva, the famalicense athlete who won the gold medal at the 2013 European Boccia Championships. The Paralympic athlete was the first from Famalicão to win an Olympic medal, taking silver in the BC3 Pairs discipline at the London Paralympic Games in 2012. "A person of reference for his capacity to overcome and for his effort (...) an example to follow when it comes to overcoming and solidarity," said the Secretary General of the Atlantic Axis, Xoan Mao, during his speech honouring the athlete, in which he also mentioned that these Games, "are not just sport, they are fair play, they are conviviality," stressing the importance of this cross-border partnership and of strengthening these ties.
The Atlantic Axis Games, which take place between 30 June and 5 July in Famalicão and Braga with the participation of more than 2,000 athletes, are a biennial cross-border sporting event aimed at young athletes from the municipalities of northern Portugal and Galicia that make up the Atlantic Axis. The competition encompasses six sports, including individual adapted sports, including men's and women's handball, women's volleyball, men's and women's basketball, swimming and adapted swimming, athletics and adapted athletics. New to this edition, men's 7-a-side football is joined by women's 7-a-side football. The sports calendar can be consulted at www.famalicaodesportivo.pt/_xv_jogos_do_eixo_atlantico .