Sport, which at the end of the 19th century was largely restricted to the elite, over the years has begun to integrate members of the various social classes and become part of national daily life.
Creation of the Olympic Committee
With Portugal’s decision to participate in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1912, it was necessary to
create an Olympic Committee so that Portuguese athletes could be enrolled and participate in the V Olympic
Games.
In Portugal, the Sociedade Promotora de Educação Física Nacional (SPEFN) already existed, and it was
from this structure and its leaders that the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) was created on 30 April 1912.
The name was later changed to Olympic Committee of Portugal in 1992.
The first President of the COP was Jayme Mauperrin dos Santos, a respected leader and supporter of sport and the
Olympic Movement. He held office until 1913 and was succeeded by Alfredo Ferreira dos Anjos, also known as the
Count of Fontalva.
First Olympic Participation
Portuguese athletes took part in the Olympic Games for the first time in 1912. It was in the 5th edition of the
Games, held in Stockholm. The Portuguese mission was made up of six athletes, who took part in athletics,
fencing, and Greco-Roman wrestling competitions.
In athletics, António Stromp took part in the 100m and 200m races, Armando Cortesão in the 400m and 800m and
Francisco Lázaro competed in the marathon. António Pereira and Joaquim Vital took part in the Greco-Roman
wrestling competition and Fernando Correia in the sabre event in the fencing discipline.
Portugal’s debut in the Olympic Games was undoubtedly marked by the death of marathon runner Francisco Lázaro,
who suffered a heatstroke during the race and died in hospital the following day.
Francisco Lázaro in the marathon at the Stockholm 1912 Olympic Games
Suit design for the Portuguese athletes at the Amsterdam Olympic Games
1928
Olympic Committee of Portugal archive
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games
Emblem used on the uniform of the members of the Portuguese delegation at the London
Olympic Games
1948
Moniz Pereira collection / National Museum of Sport collection
Opening speech of the Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games Helsinki
Portuguese athletes' suit at the Rome 1960 Olympic Games
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the Rome Olympic Games
1960
Olympic Committee of Portugal archive
Munich Olympic Games emblem issued by the Olympic Committee of Portugal
1972
National Museum of Sport collection
Opening ceremony of the Munich Olympic Games 1972
Olympic Committee of Portugal archive
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the Montreal Olympic Games
1976
Olympic Committee of Portugal archive
Pennant regarding Portugal's participation in the Moscow Olympic Games
1980
National Museum of Sport collection
Matos Fernandes Los Angeles Olympic Games medal
1984
Sport Lisboa e Benfica collection
Set of three Seoul Olympic Games pins with case, belonging to Matos Fernandes
1988
Sport Lisboa e Benfica collection
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the Seoul 1988 Olympic Games
Suit design for the Portuguese athletes at the Barcelona Olympic Games
1992
Olympic Committee of Portugal archive
Opening Ceremony of the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games
Parade of the Portuguese delegation at the London 2012 Olympic Games
