Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa believes COP president has changed sport in Portugal

This Wednesday, the President of the Republic said that sport in Portugal has changed thanks to the contribution of José Manuel Constantino, thanking the President of the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) for his “tired” past in the service of the country.

“It will be difficult for them to witness such an unforgettable ceremony as this,” began Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, addressing the audience present this Wednesday at the Department of Human Motor Sciences of the University of Lisbon in Oeiras. , award from the University of Lisbon for the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa to the highest representative of national sport.

Assessing that José Manuel Constantino “always lived as a university student,” the President of the Republic considered that the “Honoris Causa” ceremony was “a day of celebration of the university,” but also “a day of celebration of sports,” since the President of the CC “dedicated his passion to sports.”

“His interest in sports extended much further. What he published covered almost every aspect of the sport and, most importantly, influenced Portuguese sport. Portuguese sport learned from him,” he asserted.

President of the COP since 2013, Constantino, born on May 21, 1950 in Santarem and graduated in physical education from the Higher Institute of Physical Education, has a long career related to sports as well as public administration.

Among the positions held, we highlight the presidency of the Portuguese Sports Confederation from 2000 to 2002, the presidency of the Portuguese Institute of Sports from 2002 to 2005, and also, in fact, the presidency of the National Anti-Doping Council and the presidency of the National Council against Violence in Sports.

“Today is also a celebration of the Olympic spirit, because sports in Portugal have also changed thanks to his hand as an exponent of the Olympic spirit. How he realized that the Olympic spirit could be more international, more open, more global, more peace-loving, more tolerant, more dialogical, more democratic, more pluralistic, more progressive,” continued the President of the Republic.

Marcelo Rebelo de Souza emphasized that José Manuel Constantino “has so many exceptional qualities that it is difficult to choose two,” but chose to highlight the “character and progressive spirit” of the new Doctor Honoris Causa.

“The character is sometimes intractable. A little uncooperative. But fortunately it is. The character is able to handle the most difficult situations with the same masculinity, the same verticality and the same determination.

And then, a progressive spirit, always looking to the future,” he listed. For the head of state, today’s ceremony was also a celebration of Portugal and the future, which is “rare because usually in doctoral studies, Honoris Causa pays tribute to the past. “For you, everything is exactly the opposite. Every day he recreates himself. Every day starts like it’s the first day […] and sets goals.

And there is no shortage of goals such as recognition of sport in the public sphere, further development of public policy, there is no shortage even of specific Olympic goals in a few months. I hope you’re thinking about them, we’re thinking about them, and we’re at peace because we know you’re thinking about them,” he said, referring to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The President of the Republic guaranteed that Portugal will not let go of the future Jose Manuel Constantino, clearly weakened by health problems, and said that “one day or another” the country’s main sports leader “will not avoid” another award.

“We had to think a little bit about his future,” he added. “You cannot rest, you have never rested in your life. Your life has been full of tedious service to Portugal. And so I am here to thank you on behalf of Portugal for this weary past, but bet on the weary future,” he concluded.