The Portuguese Minister of Education, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues, and the Youth and Sports Secretary of State, João Paulo Rebelo, visited today Coimbra to get to know all ongoing preparations for the European Universities Games 2018.

The visit started in School Poeta Manuel da Silva Gaio, next to the Coimbra University Stadium, that from this week onwards is the headquarters of EUG2018 Organizing Committee. Both members of the Portuguese Government had the opportunity to get to know the facilities as well as to assist to the protocol signing between the University of Coimbra and the School.

This agreement will assure the promotion of several cultural and educational activities regarding the EUG2018 in Silva Gaio School, as well as the concession of the EUG2018 offices and, during the Games, the EUSA offices and Accreditation Centre. The school will also concede its main Hall for some matches of the Volleyball competition.

Afterwards, the visit continued in the University Stadium where the Minister and Secretary of State for Youth and Sports (SEJD) saw the constructions that are underway in Hall 2, Football Field and all common areas of the stadium as well as the Hall 1, Hall 3, Tennis Complex and the Main Stadium.

The visit ended with the presentation of some of Academica's athletes who will compete in the EUG2018 on several sports. The players of Coimbra's University team had the opportunity to greet both members of the Portuguese Government and receive encouraging words from them eying their participation in the Games.

In the end, Tiago Brandão Rodrigues said some words and talked to the media, where he reinforced the commitment of the Portuguese Government with this event, assuring all cooperation with the Organizing Committee in order to help make the Games one more successful event to take place in Portugal.