For five days, from 26 to 30 June, athletes, family members, sports coaches, students and past pupils experienced the Salesian charism through sport that shapes, nurtures and promotes. The sporting and cultural event promoted exchange and fraternity among all members of the Salesian educational community in the Northeast.
“On behalf of the Salesian educational communities of Recife, the Salesian Institute of the Sacred Heart is proud and happy to be able to thank all of you, students, educators, family and friends, who have made this 36th Nordestão a real celebration,” said the Rector, Fr Francisco Eliano Queiroz, at the end of the event.
According to the Salesian sports coordinator, José Carlos Cunha, each Nordestão is a unique experience, saying this with the experience of being involved in this event 11 times. "We are happy, because the goal of the Nordestão is not only to reward athletes with medals, but to show the importance of respect, good behaviour and company..." he said.
Student athletes have been training for the Nordestão since January. But in addition to the physical and technical preparation of the various disciplines, the support of the family is very important for them to be motivated.
For this reason, the family of Júlia Prado, a little 8-year-old swimmer, make sure to accompany her in all the races. Nordestão Salesiano 2023 was no different. The athlete's parents, Suelen Prado and Alexander da Silva, strongly supported and encouraged their daughter at every stage of the swimming competitions. “The Nordestão was an incredible experience for my daughter. Despite being so small, she was able to cope with many emotions. And because we were all together, we were able to keep her anxiety in check at the time of the races…” said Suelen Prado.
For her part, beach volleyball athlete Letícia Fontes dos Santos wanted to recount some of the moments she experienced at the Nordestão 2023. “In these five days of racing I learned a lot and gained a lot of wisdom,” she said.
The young athlete also had to cope with an injury, while she had to compete in two different categories. But, like all the athletes who participated in the Nordestão, she was able to count on the support of educators, family members and the school nurse. “Everyone took great care of me. I got hurt during a game and they helped me with everything I needed. And in the end I was very happy, because we managed to win gold in the Beach Volleyball tournament under-15", concluded Letícia.
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