Portugal announced a comprehensive, multi-sector national sports strategy with a $140 million investment to combat alarmingly low physical activity rates and boost high-performance athletics over the next decade.
The plan, known as the National Sports Development Plan (PNDD), outlines 44 measures to be implemented between 2025 and 2036.
Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the Culture, Youth, and Sports Minister, described the launch as a “historic day.”
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro highlighted the plan’s broad benefits, including improvements in “health, quality of life, well-being, mental health, and the economic dimension.”
The PNDD’s scope extends beyond traditional sports administration, involving the Ministries of Education and Health, with initiatives starting from pre-school.
Minister Balseiro Lopes acknowledged Portugal’s significant challenge, stating the country remains “one of the countries with the lowest levels of physical activity at the European level.”
She pointed out that 73% of Portuguese adults report no sports activity, a stark contrast to the European average of 45%.
The total cost of $140 million (130 million euros) will be sourced directly from the national State Budget.
This funding includes $70 million (65 million euros) already allocated for program agreements with the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) and Paralympic Committee (CPP) for the 2024-2028 period.
The plan’s seven key objectives include reducing childhood obesity, decreasing sedentary lifestyles, increasing lifelong sports participation nationwide, boosting women’s involvement, enhancing opportunities for people with disabilities, valuing high-performance sports, and increasing direct sector investment.
The minister emphasized early intervention, stating, “It is in school that we acquire, or not, habits that will accompany us throughout life.”
The Cabinet approved the PNDD during an exceptional meeting held at the Jamor High Performance Center in Oeiras.
Separately, Prime Minister Montenegro announced significant increases in funding for Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic preparations.
Funding for Olympic preparation for the Los Angeles 2028 Games will increase by approximately 36%, from $23.7 million (22 million euros) to $32.4 million (30 million euros).
Paralympic preparation funding will jump by about 63%, from $9.9 million (9.2 million euros) to $16.2 million (15 million euros).
Deaflympics 2027 funding will see a 70% increase to $3.2 million (3 million euros).
These additional funds are expected to be transferred to the respective committees by the end of the year for their management leading up to the competitions.
Minister Balseiro Lopes concluded by emphasizing the importance of future action, saying, “The most important days are not today or tomorrow. They are the days in the coming years that will ensure this plan, in addition to being presented, is fully executed.”