The tournament featured five teams: two from higher education students, from the Polytechnic University of Santarém and Aveiro, and three teams from senior universities, from Almeirim, Loures, and the Union of Parishes of Santa Iria da Azóia, São João da Talha and Bobadela. Young university students and senior university attendees shared the field, demonstrating sport's power to bring generations together and foster social participation.
Walking Football, also known as walking soccer, is an adapted sport where participants cannot run, making football accessible and fun for all ages and physical conditions. More than the results, the event was marked by team spirit, enthusiasm, and camaraderie, proving it's not exclusively for older individuals.
This first edition reinforced walking football's potential as an inclusive and healthy activity, paving the way for similar future initiatives in higher education. Following the tournament, a guided tour of the Higher Agrarian School of the Polytechnic University of Santarém took place.
The event was organized by the Polytechnic University of Santarém, through the Chair of Longevity, Innovation and Public Policies, with support from RUTIS and the Walking Football Portugal Association.
