The opening ceremony was the highlight of the second day of the European Universities Futsal Championship (EUC) 2019. All participating universities headed to the Republic Square to commemorate the start of one of the largest tournaments organised by European Universities Sports Associaton (EUSA). After the fatigue of the games, it was time for some fun. With a rather pleasant time, the 500 participants (17 male and 11 female teams) presented to the city of Braga.
The 50 members of the organizing committee and the 150 volunteers tried to provide the best opening of the competition to all athletes, that concentrated alphabetically in the Arch of the New Gate, a very visited monument in the city of the archbishops. At the end of the parade, the anthem of Portugal was heard loud and clear, interpreted with great euphoria by all the portuguese. Throughout the opening session, several entities related to the structuring of the race have risen to the stage to give their word of motivation.
Shortly after the parade of the teams, Nuno Reis, president of the Academic Association of the University of Minho, spoke to about 500 participants present in opening ceremony. He followed Daniel Monteiro, president of the Academic Federation of University Sports, who mentioned several issues about the importance National and European sport in the growth of young people.
Also Ricardo Rio, mayor of Braga, left a message to all athletes who between the 15th and 13th of July are housed in the city of archbishops, showing themselves very proud in organizing the event. It was through a friendly handshake, which Rui Vieira de Castro, rector of the University of Minho, and Hovhannes Gabrielyan, representative of the President of EUSA at EUC Futsal 2019, they officially granted the start of the competition.
Always with a little fun and sports to the mix, the Club de Rope Skipping das Taipas has brought the participants euphoric. Characterized by constantly jumping, the performance of the dance group dazzed and enchanted all present. With "springs" on the feet, the dancers jumped to the rope and performed excellent moves. Also Renato Valença showed his skills to athletes. The freestyler performed several acrobatics with the ball of the EUC Futsal, alternating from trick to trick.
In addition to the statements of those responsible for the event, Telma Pereira, captain of the Portuguese national team who participated in the Olympic Youth Games last year and female Ambassador of EUC Futsal 2019, walked to the stage to take the oath of athlete. “On behalf of all students I promise that we shall take part in this Sporting Event, based on the rules govern , in the true spirit of friendship, fair-play and sportsmanship”, said the player of the University of Minho.
How games are not only made for athletes, Cristiano Santos, referee with accreditation in the International Football Federation (FIFA), swore to be impartial, so as to respect all athletes and leaders of participating universities. Already close to the end of the closing session, the flag of the EUSA was hoisted with the company of the anthem of the maximum organ of university sport at European level. The opening ceremony ended around 20h30.