Santa Cruz approves individual sports merit awards

New monetary awards recognize athletes from the municipality with excellent results in international competitions.

Generic image of a gold medal with the inscription 'Mérito Desportivo' on a blurred Portuguese flag.
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Generic image of a gold medal with the inscription 'Mérito Desportivo' on a blurred Portuguese flag.

The Municipality of Santa Cruz approved the Municipal Regulation for the Attribution of Individual Sports Merit Awards, published in the Official Gazette.

The initiative aims to recognize and value athletes linked to the municipality who achieve excellent results in international competitions. The regulation provides for monetary awards for registered athletes in individual sports who achieve podium places in World Championships, European Championships, or equivalent events, as well as an exceptional category for participants in the Olympic or Paralympic Games.
Awards can reach 3,000 euros for a gold medal at World Championships or equivalent events, and 2,500 euros for gold medals at European Championships. Participation in the Olympic or Paralympic Games includes an award of 1,500 euros, regardless of classification.
With this regulation, the Santa Cruz Municipal Council intends to value the effort and dedication of its athletes, promoting the municipality, the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and Portugal.
The document establishes eligibility criteria, award amounts, and application procedures. Annual deadlines will be set by the Municipal Council. The full regulation is available on the official channels of the Municipality of Santa Cruz.
Based on information from the official source: Câmara Municipal de Santa Cruz (26/10/2026)