Monte Gordo will be the stage for the first edition of the Sand Racing World Cup, a new competition from the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), aimed at motorcycles and quads.
The event is set to take place between the 17th and November 19, 2023 at Monte Gordo beach, in the middle of the low season, and is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Monte Gordo.
The municipality of Vila Real de Santo António is making its debut in organizing one of the biggest global events in the category, in the middle of the low season, with thousands of visitors expected at Monte Gordo Beach, including participants, organizers and lovers of the sport.
The council of Vila Real predicts that “the event will have a very positive impact on the local economy, from commerce to the hotel and restaurant sectors, and reinforces the idea that Vila Real de Santo António and the Algarve region have the potential to be visited during the year".
They estimate that hotels in the Vila Real municipality and neighbouring areas will “recor maximum occupancy levels during the race period, helping the tourism recovery”.
The event is promoted by the Municipal Council of Vila Real de Santo António and is organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), under the control of the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and the Motorcycling Federation of Portugal (FMP).
The Sand Racing World Cup comprises a total of three stages, with Monte Gordo being part of the international sporting calendar, welcoming the best riders in the world to compete for the world title in the sport.
The media coverage and international exposure for the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António provided by the television coverage of this sporting event, which reaches millions of European and global homes, will make the municipality and the Algarve region known beyond borders.
Taking into account the media exposure and economic return, the municipality will finance the event with a budget of €100,000, support that will be recovered through sponsorships that may be obtained as part of its holding and through the broad positive impact on the economy local.
To avoid any environmental impact, a technical team was created responsible for preparing, implementing and monitoring the Environmental Valorization Plan. This plan brings together a set of projects and actions considered important in reducing the carbon footprint associated with the event and in controlling any impacts that the activities may generate.
Actions such as the planting of pine trees, the distribution of information on good practices and the reinforcement of equipment for collecting unsorted and recyclable waste are also planned.
The circuit will also be designed to allow the public to access it easily, using the existing access points and walkways only.
In order to monitor the quality of the sand and water, ARHAlg will carry out analyzes of microbiological parameters and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs). The collection of sand samples will be carried out at three different times, namely, before moving the sand (necessary to create the competition circui), on the day immediately following the event, and then after the sand has been returned to normal.
