Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa outlined his post-presidency plans, announcing he will become a visiting professor in California and attend the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The head of state, whose term ends in March of next year, made the announcement on Thursday during a Portuguese Olympic Committee meeting in Lisbon. He was decorating medal-winning athletes at the event.
Rebelo de Sousa stated that by 2028, he will be “a free man,” able to experience the Olympic Games in a different capacity.
He explained that his visiting professorship will coincide with the Los Angeles Olympics. “I’m going to be a visiting professor in California, and, therefore, it combines the useful with the pleasant,” he said.
He added that this “unique and privileged condition” will allow him “more time to see more modalities and follow even more the triumphs of our athletes.”
The President characterized the 2028 Olympics as a significant “bet” by the current center-right PSD/CDS-PP government.
He expressed his expectation that his successor, taking office on March 9 next year, will witness “an enormous leap in Portugal’s Olympic presence.”
Rebelo de Sousa mentioned discussing this matter with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in their weekly meetings.
He cited Montenegro’s “enthusiasm” for “the bet on the 2028 Olympic Games” as the “strongest sign” that the Prime Minister “wants to last at least four years” in power.
He clarified that while this is not the first or only such commitment by a government, it is particularly important given that the country now “has funds it did not have in the past.”
According to the President, the government intends to utilize these funds for “significant steps” by 2028. These investments will focus on infrastructure, athlete support, stimulating essential federations, and assisting sports clubs.