Portugal Urges Unified Paralympic Strategy for Mozambique
The President of the Portuguese Paralympic Committee (CPP), José Manuel Lourenço, is calling for a unified front in Mozambican sports. Speaking at a press conference in Maputo, Lourenço urged the country to integrate its Olympic and Paralympic movements to ensure that athletes with disabilities are treated as a core component of the national sports system rather than a separate entity.
A Unified Vision for ‘Team Portugal’ as a Model
Lourenço highlighted Portugal’s recent success with the “Equipa Portugal” (Team Portugal) initiative, where both committees operate under a single brand. He argued that this institutional alignment strengthens communication and resources without stripping either organization of its unique identity.
“I do not believe we have sports for people without disabilities and then sports for people with disabilities. What we have is sport. Everything is sport,” Lourenço stated, emphasizing that convergence allows both sides to leverage their collective experience “for the sake of the game.”
Launching the Lusophone Paralympic Mentoring Network
The call for unity coincided with the launch of the first stage of the Lusophone Paralympic Mentoring Network. Funded by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the program will bring together 30 Mozambican athletes, coaches, and officials for intensive capacity-building sessions in athletics, boccia, and powerlifting.
The training, led by Portuguese experts, aims to bolster technical and management skills. Lourenço noted that the sessions are designed not just for current competitors, but to identify new talent and train coaches to handle the specific physiological and psychological needs of Paralympic athletes.
Breaking Down Barriers and Looking Toward Los Angeles 2028
Beyond technical skills, the program has a social mission. Jorge Carvalho, coordinator of the mentoring network, emphasized that the initiative seeks to combat discrimination and raise awareness about inclusion. He challenged Mozambique to move beyond wild-card entries and strive for direct qualification of more athletes for future Paralympic Games.
The Secretary-General of the Olympic Committee of Mozambique welcomed the initiative, urging local sports leaders to “catapult” the national Paralympic movement by absorbing the expertise offered by their Portuguese counterparts.
Expanding Across the Lusophone World
Mozambique serves as the inaugural host for this mentoring network, which is set to expand to Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde, and Angola. The program’s strategic horizon is the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games cycle, aiming to significantly increase the presence and competitiveness of Portuguese-speaking African nations on the world stage.
Image: Pexels – Kampus Production
