Hospital da Luz will be the official medical service provider of the next three editions of EDP Meia-Maratona de Lisboa. The agreement, signed between Luz Saúde and Maratona Clube de Portugal (MCP), was announced in the press conference of presentation of the 21 km-race, which was held on the 6 th April at Hospital da Luz Lisboa. The clinical assistance of Hospital da Luz to the half-marathon considered the fastest in the world, will be initiated in this 2022 edition (the 31 st ), which is scheduled for the next 8 th May and the organization expects the participation of around 27,500 athletes. Pedro Patrício, the executive director of Hospital da Luz Lisboa, explained, on the occasion, that the assistance to athletes will be ensured through means involving a team of doctors and nurses from Hospital da Luz, supported by ambulances and by Hospital da Luz Lisboa, which will act as back-up hospital. Concerning the partnership now established with MCP, Pedro Patrício highlighted the continuity of the strong bet of Hospital da Luz on Sports Medicine, as evidenced by the already long-standing connection with clubs , such as SL Benfica, Vitória Futebol Clube, Belenenses, Cascais Rugby, Associação Académica de Coimbra, Varzim Sport Clube, among many others. “Being present in the running was a long-awaited goal, for we wanted to be among the best – hence the connection to the Lisbon Half-Marathon and the MCP, a partnership we hope to extend for many more years”, he stated. With the new Centre of Sports Medicine, Hospital da Luz Lisboa has the capacity to offer clinical follow-up to any exercise practitioner – from recreational to high-performance sport – throughout his active sports life. “We did a great investment in facilities, equipment and personnel”, highlighted Pedro Patrício, giving a few examples: A 20 meter-running track with sandbox; Swimming pools; Top-end equipment, such as the AlterG – antigravity treadmill, that is used, for instance, in astronaut training – and the cryosauna, besides a series of biomechanical and biodynamic equipment; A multidisciplinary team, with specialists in sports medicine, orthopaedics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, cardiology, imaging and general surgery, as well as physiologists, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, podologists, among others, focused on efficiency and performance, but also on the rehabilitation and fast recovery of athletes. Adding new records and solidarity towards Ukraine On its turn, Carlos Moia, president of Maratona Clube de Portugal, said that the major goal of the 2022 edition is to add to the men’s record for that distance, already achieved, the women’s world record. On that same day, 8 th May, takes place the Vodafone 10K race, also starting on Ponte 25 de Abril and with a similar path to the Half-Marathon. Its more playful character allows the participation of thousands of people, national and international, among them many public figures. In Lisbon, there will be around 10 thousand foreign athletes, representing 96 countries. In a relaxed and unique atmosphere, the participants will be able to walk or run at their favourite rhythm. In its playful version and also supportive, MCP invited everyone to participate in the racing event “Mimosa Passeio da Família” (Mimosa Family Walk), through its partnership with Fundação Benfica, which is presently supporting Ukrainian families in their integration in Portugal. This 4 km-walk will take place on Saturday, May 7, around 11 a.m., in Belém riverside area. The participants will be presented with a performance by the singer Carolina Deslandes. The press conference held this Wednesday at Hospital da Luz Lisboa counted moreover with the participations of Inês Pitta e Cunha (EDP Comercial Communication and Marketing director), Filipe Pacheco (Head of Sport at the City Council of Almada), Rafael Salgueiro (Adviser to the Head of Sport at the City Council of Lisbon) and Vitor Pataco (president of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth). In the photo above, Vitor Pataco, Inês Pitta e Cunha, Carlos Moia, Pedro Patrício, Rafael Salgueiro and Filipe Pacheco. Learn more about the Sports Medicine Center of Hospital da Luz Lisboa . Schedule of EDP Half-Marathon of Lisbon 5, 6 and 7 May – picking up of the participants’ kits, at CCB, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. 7 May 9.30 a.m. – start of the Luso 7K race 11 a.m. – start of the Mimosa Passeio da Família 4 p.m. – start of the EDP Mini Campeões 8 May 10:20 a.m. – start of the EDP Half-Marathon of Lisbon 10:55 a.m. – start of the Vodafone 10K race
