The students had been asking the teachers for days when it would finally open. With every PE class, the question came again: “Teacher, when can we go play there?” The last few days — spent watching the final touches of the painting and the safety tests of the equipment — were even more impatient. But it was almost, almost ready to open. The new sports field at Luís António Verney Basic and Secondary School, donated by Hospital da Luz, has now been officially opened for student use. On March 26, during a small inauguration ceremony, students — divided into two teams — played the first match. Schoolmates of different ages cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines, celebrating goals and good plays without caring who was winning or who would take the final victory. This new sports field was offered by Hospital da Luz following the school’s victory in the 2nd Hospital da Luz Inter-School Tournament, held in June 2024 at Estádio do Restelo, which brought together nearly 200 children aged 10 to 12 from public schools in the Lisbon region. The second edition of this children’s football tournament was organized by Hospital da Luz in partnership with ADVITA (Association for the Development of New Life Initiatives, IPSS) and EPIS – Entrepreneurs for Social Inclusion, with the institutional support of Lisbon City Council. Luís António Verney School’s team emerged as the overall winner and therefore received the tournament’s main prize offered by Hospital da Luz: a brand-new sports field for school sports activities. The inauguration ceremony began in a more formal tone and was attended by representatives of the organizations behind the initiative, including Luz Saúde CEO, Isabel Vaz , who addressed the students, saying: “With your victory in this tournament, you proved yourselves worthy of your school and your teachers, who worked so hard to help you achieve it.” She wished them “many happy days on this field and at this school,” highlighting “the importance of being healthy, of practicing sports for our minds, our bodies, and everything we do in life.” “This new field represents our commitment to the future, to health, and to the community,” he concluded. Rodrigo Mello Gonçalves, the municipal secretary of education, highlighted this initiative as “an example of what we can develop in the city, bringing together public institutions, city schools, and the social sector in projects that benefit everyone, the whole community — especially our young people and our schools.” He expressed his gratitude: “On behalf of Lisbon City Council, thank you to our partners. Thank you to Hospital da Luz — congratulations on holding another tournament, which this time brought victory to Luís António Verney School. Congratulations to the tournament winners and to all the players. You can always count on the City Council’s support.” Nuno Palma, from EPIS, expressed his hope that the next edition of the tournament will take place soon, giving other students and schools the same opportunity. The school principal, Valdemar Rente, thanked Hospital da Luz and the other partners “deeply,” stating: “This sports field is not just a place for physical activity — it is the projection of a new reality. It is a space for development, for health, and for building values. It is a clear sign that we believe in the future and in investing in it.” He added: “Your commitment to this project shows a close understanding of school communities, their needs, and a concrete contribution to their growth. The results of this effort are evident in the implementation of school projects recognized and valued by the entire educational community. This shared success deserves to be celebrated on behalf of all students and teachers.” The morning ended with the inaugural match between two mixed teams from the school, including some members of the team that won the 2nd Hospital da Luz Inter-School Tournament. The new field now belongs to all of them. Congratulations to all students and teachers of Luís António Verney School!
