Comparing the number with the same period of the last three games, there is a decrease, because at the end of 2015, Portugal had 46 participants assured for Rio2016, in 2011 it had 41 on the way to London2012, and in 2007 there were 44 with a stamped passport ready for Beijing2008.


For the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP) sports director, Pedro Roque, this reduction is explained mainly by two factors, the most significant being the absence of participation in football, which at Rio2016 guaranteed the participation of 18 footballers.


On the other hand, in athletics, the qualification system has changed and the qualification through a pre-defined mark is now much more demanding than in the past.


“Right now, we have 10 qualified sports. If we consider that judo, skateboarding, triathlon and even, eventually, tennis have sportspeople in a more than privileged position to go, we foresee a minimum of 14 sports,” he said. TPN/Lusa