{"id":30507,"date":"2026-05-01T15:35:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=30507"},"modified":"2026-05-01T15:35:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T22:35:27","slug":"countdown-30th-national-salesian-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2026\/05\/01\/countdown-30th-national-salesian-games\/","title":{"rendered":"Countdown: 30th National Salesian Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

(ANS \u2013 \u00c9vora, April 2026) <\/strong>\u2013 The 30th National Salesian Games are fast approaching, and \u00c9vora is preparing to welcome, from April 30 to May 3, more than 1,100 athletes from Salesian houses (SDB and FMA) across the country. The event will also bring together 2,000 family members, educators, and caregivers, along with 150 volunteers supporting logistics, entertainment, administration, communications, and celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final countdown is underway. Behind the scenes, organizing teams and volunteers are putting the finishing touches in place to ensure everything is ready for one of the most memorable moments of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 30th edition of the National Salesian Games holds special significance, as it is part of the celebrations marking the centennial of the Salesians\u2019 presence in \u00c9vora\u2014a century dedicated to the education, guidance, and holistic development of generations of young people, inspired by Don Bosco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than just a sporting competition, the National Salesian Games offer a space for connection, sharing, and living out values, where team spirit and friendship take center stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most anticipated moments is the opening ceremony, which will be streamed live on the Salesians\u2019 YouTube channel, allowing the entire community to take part in the beginning of this major Salesian celebration, even from afar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With everything in place, \u00c9vora is preparing for days filled with joy, sport, and Salesian spirit. Participants and the broader community are invited to come, experience, and celebrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe aim to promote sport as an opportunity for young people from Salesian houses, Salesians, and Salesian Sisters in Portugal\u2014including Funchal\u2014and Cape Verde, particularly the island of S\u00e3o Vicente, to come together and grow educationally, culturally, and spiritually,\u201d said David Teixeira, Director of the Salesians of \u00c9vora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Official Anthem of the 2026 National Salesian Games<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can now listen to the official anthem of the 2026 National Salesian Games, \u201cA Century to Remember,\u201d<\/em> which captures the spirit of the Games: intense days of competition, gathering, and shared experiences among young people from across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The anthem reflects what is experienced both on and off the field\u2014the energy of competition, the strength of friendship, and the joy of belonging to this great community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn this edition in \u00c9vora, we are also celebrating a journey rich in history, but above all what continues to happen today: young people who give their all, who participate, and who make the Games a unique experience,\u201d the organizers commented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Event Program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 30th National Salesian Games will take place over four dynamic days of activities, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Sports competitions across multiple disciplines (basketball, futsal, volleyball, swimming, and table tennis) for various age groups;
\u2013 Matches held at Salesian facilities in \u00c9vora, as well as in sports halls and swimming pools throughout the city;
\u2013 A competitive environment rooted in fair play and respect for opponents;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Entertainment and cultural activities, including music, games, and group experiences;
\u2013 A cultural program highlighting \u00c9vora\u2019s rich history and heritage;
\u2013 Opportunities for connection among athletes, families, and educational communities;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2013 Opening Ceremony:<\/strong> A formal and festive celebration featuring a parade of delegations and institutional messages;
\u2013 Eucharistic Celebration:<\/strong> A central moment of prayer and shared faith bringing together the entire Salesian community;
\u2013 Closing Ceremony:<\/strong> A final celebration including awards, tributes, and a heartfelt farewell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Salesian Games: A Tradition of More Than 30 Years<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 1992, the National Salesian Games have rotated among Salesian communities across Portugal, bringing the educational spirit of Don Bosco to different cities and regions. Over three decades and 30 editions, the event has become a highlight of the annual calendar for Salesian schools and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond athletic achievement, the Games promote holistic formation, sport as a tool for education and personal growth, camaraderie and friendship, and meaningful encounters among young people from diverse regions\u2014fostering lasting bonds. \u00c9vora is hosting the Games for the fourth time, following previous editions in 2010, 2015, and 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significance and Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For young athletes, participation in the National Salesian Games is a transformative experience: competing, learning to navigate both victory and defeat, building friendships across cities, and feeling part of a larger community. It is growth through sport, grounded in strong values and lived in an atmosphere of joy and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For families, it is an opportunity to see their children excel, connect with other families, and engage in a shared educational mission. It reinforces the idea that education extends beyond the classroom\u2014into the field, the gym, the pool, and everyday social interaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the city of \u00c9vora, hosting the Games means welcoming thousands of visitors over four days, supporting the local economy, and strengthening its reputation as a destination for youth and sporting events. It also celebrates the century-long presence of the Salesians and their significant contribution to the city\u2019s educational and social life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Salesian Family, the Games are a moment of unity: different houses, projects, and educational-pastoral communities come together to share and celebrate. It is a living expression of Don Bosco\u2019s vision\u2014to educate by evangelizing and to evangelize by educating.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(ANS \u2013 \u00c9vora, April 2026) \u2013 The 30th National Salesian Games are fast approaching, and \u00c9vora is preparing to welcome, from April 30 to May 3, more than 1,100 athletes from Salesian houses (SDB and FMA) across the country. The event will also bring together 2,000 family members, educators, and caregivers, along with 150 volunteers supporting logistics, entertainment, administration, communications, and celebrations. The final countdown … Continuar leyendo Countdown: 30th National Salesian Games<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":10336596,"featured_media":30510,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4639169,516714022],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salesian-family","category-salesian-world-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salesianbulletin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026-05-01-Evora-Games-feature.jpg?fit=1600%2C875&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p59ePG-7W3","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30507","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10336596"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30507"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30507\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30511,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30507\/revisions\/30511"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30507"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30507"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30507"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}