Real Madrid

"Congratulations to all. We encourage you to continue practicing and enjoying sport." This was the message transmitted in a video by Cristiano Ronaldo, Coentrao and Pepe in support of the Realmadrid Foundation's project for its Portuguese social-sports academies in Vila Real de Santo Antonio y Castro Marim, Vila Nova de Gaia and Funchal. The act was attended by Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueño; Foundation Executive Director Enrique Sanchez; Luis Gomes, Mayor of Vila Real de Santo Antonio; former player Joao Vieira Pinto; and Salesian Missions procurator Agustin Pacheco.

Butragueño
"I'm proud to present our first academies in our neighboring country. We are joined with Portugal by ties of friendship and sport. We've created academies there that use sport as an integration tool for different social collectives. They are places where children will learn how to make good use of their free time and where they will tackle healthy activities."

"The first academy we opened was a municipal project in Vila Real de Santo Antonio y Castro Marim, in the Algarve. The project opened in October 2011 and 135 children aged between 6 and 13 years old benefit from it; there are also 40 girsl amongst them. We collaborate in this project with Selesian Missions. Activities will begin in the municipal academy of Vila Nova de Gaia in March, with 200 boys and girls aged between 6 and 11 attending."