The Portuguese Sports Confederation (CDP) has sharply criticized the government’s proposed 2026 sports budget, arguing a significant funding increase is misdirected towards elite Olympic and Paralympic programs at the expense of vital grassroots development.
The CDP acknowledged the government’s commitment to boost the sector with an additional $8.7 million USD, bringing the total sports allocation to $63.2 million USD. However, the confederation contends that priorities within this investment are “exchanged,” according to CDP President Daniel Monteiro.
A substantial portion of the new funding, $7.4 million USD, is earmarked for Olympic and Paralympic initiatives. In contrast, only $183,000 USD is allocated to the regular activities of over 60 sports federations nationwide.
The CDP warned this disparity severely limits the capacity for comprehensive sports development across various disciplines. The organization champions investment in clubs, technical structures, and programs to attract and train leaders, referees, and coaches. It also supports participation in international events for national teams and the development of athletes of all age groups.
“Allocating resources almost exclusively to the Olympic and Paralympic project, without being accompanied by a structural investment in the development of sport in Portugal…is to look exclusively at those who are today our best athletes, ignoring those who one day also aspire to be so,” Monteiro stated.
The criticism followed an announcement by Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, detailing the 2026 State Budget’s sports allocation.
The CDP reiterated that investment in sports must prioritize sports federations as indispensable elements in the development process.
“We cannot consider that there is structural investment in sport when the priority is the Olympic and Paralympic project or the promotion of physical activity, without the necessary accompanying investment in the development of modalities and the regular activity of sports federations,” the CDP said in a statement.
The confederation added that it will continue to monitor discussions on the 2026 State Budget closely. It hopes parliament will incorporate several fiscal proposals for sports that it has presented to parliamentary groups in recent weeks.