According to some of the top rugby teams in the world the answer seems to be clearly yes!

Ireland (Rank2) and England (Rank4) have both recently chosen Portugal and the region of the Algarve to prepare for the greatest rugby championship: the Guiness VI Nations Tournament. Ireland Rugby in Quinta do Lago and England Rugby in Vilamoura central Algarve seem to indicate that the country combines all the right ingredients to attract some of the greatest sports outfits in the World.

Situated on the south-west corner of the Iberian Peninsula (which it shares with Spain), Portugal is home to a large number of first class sports facilities. The country love with sports is apparent and not only with golf with its 87 golf courses spread around the country. Portugal features some of the most innovative and modern high performance centers and sports resorts around. Here we try to explore why this under-the-radar country is such a phenomenal sports tourism destination.

Glorious Sunshine & Climate

Portugal’s Mediterranean climate is tailor made for sports. It’s one of Europe’s warmest countries year-round, with moderate winters and warm, comfortable summers. It’s also one of the driest countries – so your chances of getting rained out are low. From December to February, normally the coldest months of the year, air temperatures average between 12°C and 16°C but temperatures in the sun are regularly in the low 20’s, perfect for sports teams and athletes in Northern Europe suffering through rough winters. The mildest weather in Portugal is along the southern Algarve coast, where it generally stays between 15ºC and 25ºC degrees all winter. The summers do get hot, but cool breezes coming in off the Atlantic Ocean help provide some respite from the sun.

First Class Facilities

Currently there are fourteen High Performance Sports Centers operating in Portugal plus innumerous sports resorts totally dedicated to welcoming visiting foreign teams looking for the ideal destination to prepare their next competition. The mission of the recently founded Portuguese Network of High Performance Sports Centres is to meet the needs of national and international sports federations & clubs that wish to use the centers in the country.

Hospitality and Healthy Food are also some of the major reasons for Portugal being an excellent country for the practice of the most diverse sports, in which elite athletes easily find the conditions needed to achieve the so desired success. In Portugal, teams, coaches and athletes will find a harmonious and stable country in which they will not have to worry about anything else besides training, preparing the body and the mind to win and to achieve the desired trophies. There are 1230 km of coastline, mountainous terrain to the north and plains to the south, as well as a mild Mediterranean climate that give Portugal excellent natural characteristics that promotes high performance training.

When you choose Portugal, you’re choosing a country that knows how to welcome you, economically and politically stable and that seeks to give all its visitors good reasons to stay long. With a population dedicated to welcoming the best, of which about 80% speak English easily and with an healthy and well balanced Mediterranean cuisine, Portugal provides the ideal conditions for success. Added to this is the low cost of living coupled with a high standard of living throughout the country.

Safety

Portugal has been placed as the third most peaceful country in the world by the latest Global Peace Index report. The complete index report shows that Portugal is now in the top 3 of the safest countries in the world, together with Iceland and New Zealand. The new statistics show a positive outcome for Portugal. The country is on the rise, as Portugal was ranked fifth in the world in 2016.

Sports Tourism Specialists

If you are interested in knowing more about how to benefit from these superior training conditions in Portugal do not hesitate to contact us by emailing us at info@sports-ventures.com.

Sports Ventures is a Sports Travel & Events House provider of sports travel & event management services for sports teams of all ages, standards of play in diverse disciplines including football/soccer, basketball, rugby, field hockey, swimming, lacrosse, athletics and other team and individual sports.

Our Products & Services

1. Sports tours for schools, clubs, universities offering a comprehensive one-stop-shopping approach – providing air, hotel, ground transportation, group excursions and event management services always putting extra attention in all health & safety issues.
2. Sports Disciplines covered: football (soccer); basketball; rugby; field hockey; tennis; swimming, athletics, triathlon; lacrosse, handball, volleyball, GAA; Futsal;
3. Multi-Sports Tours combining several sports, water sports and even cultural activities;
4. Warm weather training camps during the winter months in southern Europe in places like the Algarve or Southern Spain for teams sports and individual athletes;
5. Olympic & Paralympic Training Camp Preparations
6. Organization of team participation sports event such as the:
   1. Lisbon junior 7´s International Weekend: www.junior7s.com (16 &17 February 2019
   2. Algarve 7´s International Tournament: www.algarve7s.com (08 & 09 June 2019)

Our Contacts

Sports Ventures | T. 351 214 411 348 | E. info@sports-ventures.com