2012 WUC Update: “13th WUC Futsal Championship will be One of the Best Ever”

BRAGA – The presentation of the official poster of the XIII World University Futsal Championship that will be held in Braga from 18 to 25 August 2012, took place on the 21^st October at the University of Minho in Braga.

This was the first act intended to promote this international event and was attended by the Portuguese National Futsal team manager- Prof. Jorge Braz, the coach of Sporting Lisbon – Orlando Duarte (coach of the FISU World University Champion in 2008 and Vice-champion of UEFA Futsal Cup 2010), the coach of the Braga / AAUM team – Pedro Palas, the players André Machado (Braga / AAUM) and a player of Sporting Lisbon – Pedro Cary (also a FISU World University Champion in 2008 and Vice-Champion of UEFA Futsal Cup 2010). Also present was the President of the Local Organizing Committee – Luis Rodrigues, the Administrator of University of Minho Social Services – Mr. Carlos Silva, and Vice President Braga’s City Hall – Vitor Sousa and the University of Minho Vice-rector– Prof. José Mendes.

Luis Rodrigues opened the press conference, referring that this is also the “kick-off event of the 13^th World University Futsal Championship”. He also mentioned that “the organization of this WUC is the proof that this Championship is not intended to be just a sports event. Our aspirations are higher than that, because we pretend to involve some legacy projects in other areas, putting into practice some of the research made at theUniversity ofMinho. The championship intends to cover projects in the technological area, mechanics, and social responsibility. This event is also integrated in the Braga – European Youth Capital 2012 program” said Luis Rodrigues.

All the participants in this press conference made a very strong emphasis in the idea that “This will be the best Championships ever.” Confidence in the success of the event was evident. “We are confident it will be a success and contribute to the development of the sport,” said the University of Minho Vice-Rector, José Mendes. “Work, perseverance, discipline and confidence” are the four key elements that this organization will follow.

“This organization wants to leave its mark on the future”, said Carlos Silva, who once again stressed that this “will be the world’s best university ever organized in the history of FISU,” the head of the University of Minho Social Services also said that “we want that all the participants in the event never forget it” .

Vitor Sousa, Braga City Hall Vice-President, said that the visibility that this event will bring to the city of Braga and to the University of Minho will be also great because in 2012 Braga will be the European Youth Capital. Braga will have even more young people through this event, young people not only in Europe but around the world. “At this difficult time that our country is experiencing, this type of event is very good, not only economically, but also because it gives the opportunity to show our city” he said.

Jorge Braz, Portuguese Futsal team manager, recognized the importance of this event not only for UMinho, but also for all athletes and coaches participating, stating that “it is in futsal and in this kind of events many players have very good experiences and then go on to new achievements.”

The 13th World University Futsal Championship is an organization assigned by the International Federation of University Sports (FISU) to the Academic Federation of University Sports (FADU) in partnership with the University of Minho (UMinho) and the University of Minho Students Union (AAUM), which is counting on about 600 athletes from 20 countries, because as Luis Rodrigues said “the last Championship had about 400 athletes from 16 countries, we hope to surpass these standards.”

(Source: Fernando Parente, OC 2012 WUC Futsal)