Lisbon University Stadium marks its 70th anniversary with a commemorative event

The ceremony took place at Athletics Track No. 2 of the University of Lisbon Stadium and was attended by the Rector of the University of Lisbon, Luís Ferreira, and the President of the University of Lisbon Stadium, João Roquette.

The session began with the reception of guests, accompanied by performances by academic musical groups (tunas), followed by sporting and cultural demonstrations, including displays of Jogo do Pau and Capoeira.

The event also featured the presentation of the new commemorative video marking the 70th anniversary of the University of Lisbon Stadium, a piece celebrating its history, identity and impact over seven decades of service to university sport.

During the ceremony, the new University of Lisbon Stadium website was also unveiled. The renewed platform aims to strengthen engagement with the academic community and improve access to the information and services provided by the institution.

Another of the key moments of the session was the resumption of the University of Lisbon Sports Merit Awards, which recognise student-athletes who successfully combine academic excellence with high-level sporting performance. Although it was not possible on this occasion to award scholarships to all the distinguished student-athletes, the ceremony served to publicly acknowledge their achievements, particularly those who won medals in international university sports competitions during the 2024/2025 academic year. The following student-athletes took to the stage to receive recognition: Manuel Martinho and Margarida Brás, represented by Rodrigo Morais.

It was also announced that a dedicated ceremony for the formal presentation of the Sports Merit Scholarships will be organised shortly, allowing all the distinguished student-athletes to receive individual recognition. During the session, the names of all award recipients were displayed in a collective tribute to the merit, dedication and commitment of University of Lisbon students.

The celebrations were also marked by the announcement that the University of Lisbon Stadium will host the first European Universities Athletics Championship in August 2027. The event is the result of a bid submitted by the Portuguese Academic Federation of University Sport (FADU) to the European University Sports Association (EUSA). The University of Lisbon and the Portuguese Athletics Federation are partners of FADU in organising this event. In this context, a cooperation agreement will be signed between the institutions involved, providing a framework not only for this event but also for future collaboration in the development of athletics within the university environment.

The commemorations included an opening address by João Roquette, President of the University of Lisbon Stadium. As part of the presentation of the Sports Merit Scholarships for the 2024/2025 academic year, the Rector of the University of Lisbon, Luís Ferreira, and Vice-Rector Luís Castro took to the stage to present the scholarships. In relation to the announcement of the first European Universities Athletics Championship, the President of the Portuguese Athletics Federation, Domingos Castro, and the First Vice-President of the Portuguese Academic Federation of University Sport (FADU), Tomás Nascimento, also addressed the audience with brief speeches.

The celebration of the 70th anniversary of the University of Lisbon Stadium highlighted the historic role of EULisboa in promoting sport, health and well-being within the academic community, as well as its contribution to the development of university sport in Portugal.

Alongside the official celebrations, the University of Lisbon Stadium also organised an Open Week from 25 to 29 May, which included, on 27 May, an Open Day featuring sporting activities, health and well-being initiatives, and opportunities to try different sports, aimed at both the academic community and the Stadium's users.