The glory night of the National Football Team took place on the 10th of July, in a city thousands of kilometers away, but its economic repercussions were (and will be) well felt in Portugal.
The Chamber of Faro and Algfuturo association honored this Saturday the football team, the day before it played a qualifying match for the 2018 World Cup at Estádio Algarve.
The Noble Hall of the Chamber of Faro It was full to attend the ceremony in honor of the champions, which was attended by the president of the Portuguese Football Federation Fernando Gomes. And there were some younger fans, perhaps in the hope that one of the heroes of Paris might attend, which didn't happen (nor was it scheduled).
The team was not physically present, but it was the central theme of the different speeches in the afternoon. The national team's players were the protagonists, but, as the FPF president pointed out, winning the trophy was due to "a joint effort" of many people, from the biggest star in the constellation of Portuguese players, Cristiano Ronaldo, to anonymous members of the federation, who worked with the team and gave it the necessary conditions to triumph.
This tribute was also for them. The Chamber of Faro and Algfuturo made it clear that the distinction received today by Fernando Gomes extends «to the entire federation, selector, players, technical team and other professionals involved, who made Portugal's dream of being European Football Champion a reality».
The session also served for the president of the FPF to leave some figures on the impact of the international campaigns of the football team on the Portuguese economy.
According to a study by the IPAM – Portuguese Institute of Marketing Administration, the provision of the selection had a direct and indirect impact of more than 600 million euros on the Portuguese economy (Euro 2004, which took place in Portugal, had an impact of around 440 million).
Direct impacts include, for example, the increased consumption dynamics caused by the national team's games, namely in bars and restaurants, while indirect impacts include, among others, the notoriety gained by Portugal. In the case of a tourist region like the Algarve, this is an aspect that is of particular interest, as it can be a way to attract more visitors to the region.
Note: Photos provided by the Chamber of Faro, after a computer problem made disappear the ones that the reporter of the Sul Informação present at the ceremony took off. Technological hazards…
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