Characterization of Federated Sports Practice in the Municipality of Guimarães (2017-2022)
Study of the Tempo Livre, through its Center for Sports Studies, reveals that, in the last five years,
there was an increase of more than 20% in the number of federated athletes in the Municipality of Guimarães, with special emphasis on the strong growth of female practitioners.
A global analysis of the annual studies carried out by CED-G on federated sports in the municipality of Guimarães
in the last five sporting seasons (18/2017 to 22/2021), demonstrates that the growth in the number of practitioners has been regular and sustained, with the exception of the sporting season of 21/2020, which was heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In five years, Guimarães registers over 1.405 federated practitioners, which translates into an overall growth of 21,02%, with a particularly significant increase in the percentage of female practitioners. In 2022 we have 606 more female practitioners, representing a growth of 70,14%. Regarding the number of male practitioners, the increase was 16,66% in the same period.
In relation to the most practiced sports, soccer assumes particular prominence, adding almost 50% of the
federated practitioners from the municipality of Guimarães. In 22/2021 there were 3.804 football players, which represents a record number in the modality.
Other disciplines such as Gymnastics (+940%), Judo (+336%), Athletics (+121%), Tennis (+78%), Shooting (+52%), Futsal
(38%) and Padel (37%) also had significant increases in practitioners during these five years.
On the other hand, sports such as Golf (-68%), Rugby (-42%), Roller Hockey (-62%) and Swimming (-28%), saw the number of practitioners drop considerably.
Analyzing specifically the female reality, relevant changes are observed in practice trends since 18/2017, where Volleyball, Skating, Karate and Cycling were at the top of preferences. Five years later, in addition to Volleyball, it is Gymnastics, Football and Handball that bring together the greatest number of female practitioners in the municipality of Guimarães.
Even so, and despite the very relevant growth of female practice, a considerable difference can still be observed in Guimarães between male practice (81,82%) and female practice (18,18%). These numbers too
diverge from the national average, where female practice is 27,9%.
A note, also, for the analysis by age group, where there is a progressive decrease in the number of practitioners in the training levels, from the U-11/10 to the junior level. It is precisely in the senior and veteran ranks that the greatest growth in practitioners is observed, which has almost doubled in five years. Data that may be related not only to the early abandonment of sports, but also to a marked aging trend of the Guimarães population. If in 2001, Guimarães was the youngest municipality in Ave e Cávado (just behind Vizela) with an Aging Index (IE) of 52,0, the most recent data for 2021
demonstrate that it has already been surpassed by Barcelos, Braga, Esposende and Famalicão in this category, with the
Current aging and 161,5. The global study that supports these conclusions can be read in full using the button below.
