Sport plays an important role in society, influencing physical health, mental and emotional well-being and is extremely important for disease control. Sport also promotes social inclusion, cooperation and team spirit through competitive objectives, providing fun and well-being for all citizens.
The role of sport in modern society is an ongoing social experience in which humanity demonstrates its potential by improving human capital. Sport performs educational, patriotic, communicative and integrative development functions, coordinating individuals and social groups, helping the nation to develop.
10:00 – 11:00
Panel 1 | Fitness and its influence on well-being, physical and emotional health
Fitness is an old concept, with a strong tradition and roots in Portugal since 1980. The concept evolved to the term wellness (at the beginning of the 21st century), with fitness centers offering holistic physical activities that impact not only physical health, but also people's well-being and emotional health. In a society where sedentary lifestyles (781% of the population does not practice physical activity - Eurobarometer, 2022) and obesity (The World Obesity Federation warns that 391% of Portuguese people will be obese by 2035) are high, how can the fitness industry be an aggregator, responding to these and other challenges in society?
Moderator: Vera Pedragosa, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa
Catia Velez, Vice-President Portugal Active
Peter Simon, CEO Balance Company
11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Panel 2 | The impact of football on society
Sport, particularly football, plays a very important role today.
It is important in the present to know and discuss ideas and projects, to reach a better future.
Football has profound impacts in a wide range of areas, from social inclusion, which is so important today, to economic development.
Education and values cultivated as a team, technological innovation and the positive impact on the unity of National identity, contribute to and build a reality of noble causes.
Moderator: John Varandas Fernandes, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa
Louis Star, Coordinator of the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal
Claudia Lopes, Sport TV
speakers
Vera Pedragosa
Vera Pedragosa holds a PhD in sports sciences, is a member of the Center for Research in Economic and Business Sciences (CICEE) and collaborates with the Center for Research in Psychology (CIP), associate professor and scientific coordinator of the Degree in Sport Management at the Autonomous University of Lisbon. He is currently responsible for the disciplines of Sports Marketing and Curriculum Internships.
He completed a degree in Economics in 2000 and a Master's in Management in 2006, both from Universidade Lusíada de Lisboa, and a PhD in Sports Science (Sports Management) in 2012, from the Faculty of Human Motricity – University of Lisbon. Between 2001 and 2011, she was a manager in fitness organizations (opening several gyms and had her own gym) and an integrated member of Portugal Activo (Association of Academies and Gyms of Portugal) in the governing bodies.
Her research interests are consumer behavior in the fitness industry, she is the author of scientific articles, book chapters and communications, in a national and international environment, by peer review. Coordinates and participates in research projects, scientific congresses, fundraising for research projects and scientific organizations of events and conferences.
Fernandes Balconies
Graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Lisbon
Orthopedic Surgeon at the University Hospital Center of Central Lisbon (CHULC,
EPE) – Saint Joseph Hospital
Senior Management Course for Health Institutions (PADIS) – AESE
Public Management and Training Course (FORGEP) – National Institute of
Public Administration
Competence in Pharmaceutical Medicine by the Portuguese Medical Association
Competence in Health Services Management by the Portuguese Medical Association
Within the scope of his specialty, he worked in several international hospitals,
Spain and the United States of America
He held several management positions in hospitals of the National Health Service.
Health (NHS)
Former Director of Emergency Care at São José Hospital – Lisbon
Former Clinical Director and Administrator of the first Public-Private partnership in Portugal – Cascais Hospital
Author of several scientific publications and active member of Scientific Societies
National and International
With several published books:
“Adult Treatment Protocols in Orthotraumatology”
published by Principia in 2014
“Three Views on the Future of Health in Portugal” (with
Adalberto Campos Fernandes and Pedro Pita Barros)
“Health, Innovation and Development”
“One Year After the Troika in Health Policy” – (with Pedro
Pita Barros and foreword by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa)
Founder and current Director of the Integrated Responsibility Center of
Orthopedic Traumatology at (CHULC, EPE) Hospital of São José
August 2023
President of the Convergence of Integrated Responsibility Centers,
Association (CCRIA)
President of the Orthopedic Traumatology Conferences of the Hospital Center
Central Lisbon University – CHULC, EPE
May 2022
April 2023
Assistant to the Clinical Director of CHULC (São José Hospital/Santo José Hospital)
Hospital Curry Cabral / Hospital
Dona Estefânia and Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital) – ending in June 2023
Guest Professor at the Autonomous University of Lisbon (UAL)
Coordinator of the Health Sciences Area of the Group – CEU – UAL
Recognition with the Chamber's Medals of Merit, Dedication and Honor
Municipality of Loures, for social work carried out with the community
Regular author of opinion articles on Health Policy
speakers
Claudia Lopes
Cláudia Lopes, 51 years old, is currently the presenter of the weekly program “o futebol é momento” on sport.tv+. She started in the sports area in 1998 when she took her first steps in the sports editorial department at RTP. From 2009 to 2019 she was at TVI where she presented the program “Maisfutebol”. At TVI she was also sports editor and director of the Maisfutebol website. She has a degree in Business Communication from the Instituto Superior de Comunicação Empresarial (ISCEM).
Catia Velez
Graduated in 2005 from ULHT in Biotechnology Engineering, I have always been linked to fitness as a hobby.
After a research scholarship in Belgium at the University of Ghent, the return to Portugal continued with Fitness being a parallel activity since the profession was not yet developed in Portugal.
She also worked in the chemical industry as an Occupational Health and Safety Technician, but in 2008 her passion for fitness became stronger.
The first fitness club opened in 2008, and the following years saw growth in both the business and training in both technical and management areas.
I entered the Sports Degree at ISCE in 2012.
In 2019 it had 2 Fitness Clubs with an area of over 1500 m2 each and 2 fitness studios for women.
In 2019, he was invited to join the governing bodies of Portugal Ativo and in 2014 as Vice-President.
Louis Star
Luís Estrela has been the coordinator of the Football Foundation – Liga Portugal since 2020, where he develops work focused on strengthening social responsibility in Portuguese professional football. His areas of intervention include the protection of values, social inclusion, major humanitarian causes, science and education, as well as environmental sustainability. Luís Estrela is an Ambassador for Ethics in Sport, for the National Plan for Ethics in Sport – IPDJ, and Ambassador of the 3rd Edition of the Ethics Summit 2024.
Peter Simon
“Pedro Simão is CEO of the Balance Company group, a company specializing in fitness franchising.
Born in Caldas da Rainha, he has a degree in Physical Education and Sports and a Master's in Exercise and Health from the Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH). He attended a mini-MBA in Business Management and a Postgraduate course in Gym and Academies Management (ULHT).
He started his first business in 2005, with his own investment and support from his friends and family. He quickly moved from the technical area to the management area where, after opening his second gym in 2007, the Balance Health Club & Spa in Caldas da Rainha, he began a remarkable journey in the democratization of fitness in Portugal.
With the Fitness Factory brand, he created a highly profitable business model based on the motto “Bringing professional fitness to the doorstep of every Portuguese person”. Supported by the franchising method, he expanded the brand throughout the country, helping other entrepreneurs to open successful businesses.
As an entrepreneur, he built a group of 19 companies, serving as CEO, with a presence on 2 continents and 3 countries, with 62 units in operation and an annual turnover of over €20M. Overall, the Balance Company businesses employ around 900 workers and impact more than 60,000 customers.
In terms of associations, he was an integral part of the Social Bodies of Portugal Ativo (Association of Gyms and Academies of Portugal), having been President of the Supervisory Board and is currently Vice-President of the Portuguese Franchising Association, playing a very active role in promoting the association and its reputation in the market.”
