From 4 to 12 July, Póvoa de Varzim hosted the World Boccia Cup 2026, one of the most important international competitions in the sport , bringing together 93 athletes from 22 countries and more than 300 accredited participants. As the event’s Official Medical Partner, Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim was proud to be associated with this landmark competition , helping to ensure the highest standards of safety and clinical support throughout the event. Over the course of more than a week, the city once again established itself as a premier venue for international Boccia, welcoming athletes, coaches, officials and technical teams from around the world. Organized by PCAND – the Portuguese Cerebral Palsy Sports Association – in partnership with World Boccia and with the support of the Municipality of Póvoa de Varzim, the competition also marked three decades of international Boccia events being held in the city. The Portuguese National Team delivered an outstanding performance, winning a total of four medals. Carla Oliveira stood out by securing the gold medal in the Women’s Individual BC4 category and by being part of the winning BC4 Pairs team alongside Paulo Cardoso. The silver medal was won by the BC1/BC2 team, made up of André Ramos, Cristina Gonçalves and David Araújo, while Ana Correia earned the bronze medal in the Women’s Individual BC2 category. Beyond the sporting results, the competition was widely recognized for the excellence of its organization, the quality of its facilities and the strong involvement of the local community , all of which contributed to the success of yet another edition of the World Boccia Cup in Póvoa de Varzim. Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim congratulates all athletes, technical teams, volunteers, organizers and partner organizations on the success of the event and is proud to have been part of an initiative that promotes the values of inclusion, resilience, excellence and equal opportunities through sport. Congratulations to the Portuguese medalists and to all participants who made the World Boccia Cup 2026 another milestone in the history of international Boccia . * english translation generated with AI and reviewed by the editorial team
