Rui Rodrigues, from Albufeira, who became world champion in wheelchair handball for Portugal, was honored this Friday, December 16, by the Albufeira Chamber.
Portugal was crowned World and European champion in wheelchair handball, on the 20th of November, in Leiria, in a game against the Netherlands.
Rui Rodrigues, an athlete from Albufeira who trains at Casa do Povo de Messines, is part of the Portuguese national team and was honored.
In his speech, the athlete confessed that, «even after becoming paraplegic, in 2001», he continued «to fight» for his «sports career».
The world champion thanked Casa do Povo de Messines, AMAL, the Municipality of Albufeira and friends and family for their support in achieving this objective.
«Wheelchair handball is not included in the sports modalities of the biggest competition in the world for disabled athletes, but we are trying to change that. If so, the goal will be to participate in the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles», he said.
José Carlos Rolo, Mayor, underlined the fact that this was the second time that the athlete was honored by the municipality, «which effectively demonstrates the sporting quality of the team and of Rui».
The first time was in 2018. The mayor also highlighted the title of "Inclusive City" awarded to the municipality, and referred to the need for changes.
«There is a lot that is missing, but at the moment, there are already projects that drive these changes. Albufeira is undoubtedly a municipality concerned with the inclusion and participation of all in the various activities of daily life, in this sense, there are already sidewalks with a ramp that facilitate mobility for people in wheelchairs and the Municipal Museum is already technologically prepared to receive blind and deaf," he said.
José Carlos Rolo also added that the Municipality would support handball, "since there are already two athletes from Albufeira training at the Casa do Povo de Messines".
Finally, Cristiano Cabrita, vice-president and councilor responsible for Sports and Youth, thanked the athlete for taking the county's good name across borders and reiterated the «unequivocal support of the municipality».
The mayor also said that he had already made a proposal to organize the World Wheelchair Handball Championship so that, in the future, the competition would be held in Albufeira, with Rui Rodrigues as the "star".
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