# COP aims to showcase the best of Portugal to the world at the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games

Portugal is preparing to host the fourth edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games in Portimão and Lagoa

The Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) has committed to delivering the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games with the ambition of making them “the best Games ever” and showcasing “the best of Portugal” to the world. The commitment was made on Saturday in Alvor, during the Extraordinary General Assembly of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG).

In his opening address, COP President Fernando Gomes highlighted the strategic importance of the 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games for Portugal, the host communities and the national sports movement.

“At the Portuguese Olympic Committee, we see the organisation of the 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games as an event of great importance for our country, the host communities and the entire national sports movement. Hosting these Games means taking on a logistical, sporting and cultural challenge, but also embracing a unique opportunity to promote our country, our sea and our beautiful beaches, our sports federations and our athletes internationally,” he said.

Fernando Gomes also highlighted the importance of the Mediterranean Games as “a platform for dialogue and for promoting the values of friendship, respect and excellence”.

“Portugal wants to contribute to this project by offering experience in organising major international sporting events, quality infrastructure, experienced teams, security and, above all, a commitment to helping this project grow even further,” he added.

The COP President also expressed “the desire to play an increasingly active role within the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games”, stressing that “cooperation between the countries of Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East is more than a sporting project. It is an example of unity and peace, cultural exchange and economic and social development that deserves to be further strengthened.”

Fernando Gomes thanked the Municipalities of Portimão and Lagoa for their collaboration in organising the 2027 Games, stressing that “only close cooperation between the two host municipalities, their technical teams and the Portuguese Olympic Committee will allow us to achieve what we all aspire to”.

He also reaffirmed “the firm ambition to deliver the best Mediterranean Beach Games ever, together with the sincere humility to learn from those who have organised previous editions and to share our experience with those who will host the Games after us.”

“Our great ambition is to deliver the best Mediterranean Beach Games ever. This requires rigorous planning, adequate resources, logistical excellence, environmental sustainability and a culture of service. We are counting on the active participation of everyone, and it will be through this collective energy that we will build an event that makes all Portuguese people, the International Committee and its member countries proud, while honouring the principles of the Olympic Movement,” said the COP President.

Fernando Gomes also highlighted the commitment shown by the sports federations and the importance of the participation of athletes, municipalities, Turismo de Portugal and the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth (IPDJ), as “a central condition for ensuring that these Games are both competitive and inclusive in economic and social terms”.

“These Games are a unique opportunity to show the world the best of Portugal. We therefore approach this opportunity with great determination, strong ambition and a firm commitment. We are working so that, in 2027, the Mediterranean looks to Portugal with pride as a host that successfully combines competition, professionalism and excellence,” he concluded.

Álvaro Bila, Mayor of Portimão, recalled that the process began two years ago in Heraklion, Greece, where the bid to host the Games was approved by the ICMG General Assembly.

“When the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games entrusted us with the organisation of the 2027 edition in September 2023, it was not only Portimão or Lagoa that won. It was the entire Algarve. It was the whole of Portugal. And, if I may say so, the spirit of the Mediterranean Games also won — because it chose a territory that lives by the sea like no other,” he said.

The Mayor of Portimão also reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to delivering “impeccable organisation”, “human warmth” and “a sustainable and inclusive event”.

“In 2027, the entire Mediterranean will feel at home in the Atlantic,” he said.

Luís Encarnação, Mayor of Lagoa, described the award of the fourth edition of the Mediterranean Beach Games to the two Algarve municipalities as “a historic moment for Lagoa”. He also reaffirmed the commitment to making the fourth edition “the best edition ever” and highlighted the importance of the joint project with Portimão.

“This is clear proof that what unites us is greater than what separates us. We share the Arade River, but we also share the vision that what is good for Lagoa and Portimão is necessarily good for the Algarve region. Together, we will place the region and the country at the centre of European sport,” he said.

Portimão-Lagoa 2027 sports programme

The Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games will take place from 11 to 18 September, at Praia da Rocha and Praia do Alvor in Portimão and Praia Grande in Lagoa.

The programme will feature beach versions of volleyball, tennis, football, handball and wrestling, as well as sailing (kite and iQFOiL), open-water swimming, coastal rowing (beach sprint), sea kayaking, triathle and padel.

Two exhibition disciplines are also planned: obstacle racing and motosurf.

The information was presented by COP Executive Director Pedro Farromba, who highlighted the importance of ensuring that accommodation is located close to competition venues. In many cases, this will allow athletes and other participants to travel on foot, making a significant contribution to the sustainability of the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games.

The ICMG General Assembly also included presentations on the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games in Italy and Pristina 2030 in Kosovo.

The Portuguese Government was represented at the ICMG General Assembly by Carla Silva, member of the Board of Directors of the Portuguese Institute for Sport and Youth.

The ICMG is made up of 26 National Olympic Committees, including the Portuguese Olympic Committee, which hosted the General Assembly in partnership with the Municipalities of Portimão and Lagoa.