The President of the Government of the Azores conveyed his appraisal yesterday night when he congratulated 85 athletes, clubs, sports associations and sports agents that stood out the most last year and were awarded at the 8th Azorean Sports Gala.
Mentioning the existence of more than 21 thousand federated athletes in the Azores – almost twice the number in comparison with two decades ago, Carlos César said that there are 46 teams which are participating in national competitions, concluding that sports are heading in the right direction. 
Nonetheless, the President of the Government intends to promote female athletes, in order to change the current ratio of four male athletes to one female athlete.
“Having in mind this purpose, the Government will increase in 25% the financial support to clubs that have organised female teams at young competition levels for the first time,” said the President.
In turn, the Government will implement a training plan addressed to sports leaders. Through this nationally innovative measure, the Government intends to train two thousand sports leaders.
Trying to respond to the quality and excellence challenge in sports, Carlos César announced that the Government will promote the qualification of sports technicians. It will also support the technical framework regarding the teams that participate in National top level competitions or that have athletes who are integrated in the top level competition project.
Reducing the dependence on official support from clubs and associations, withdrawing from sports management behaviours that only have the purpose of achieving immediate success, thus compromising the future, is another challenge to be overcome.
Assuring that the Government has more important priorities than repairing liabilities arising from negligent sports management, Carlos César stated that we should “search for advantageous, credible and innovative ways to stimulate private interest and financial aid to sports from companies, as well from the target population, with adequate plans for clubs to make their own facilities profitable, if they exist, and with marketing plans to diversify their activities, with emphasis on remunerative or social, occupational, training and even assisting functions.”
The President of the Government assured that the Azores sports associations may count on the Government’s support in a joint initiative to make Azorean sports even better.