Sport policy in Portugal

Abstract

Portugal took its first step in the systematization of sport with the advent liberalism after the French invasion began in 1808. The contact of the Portuguese military with the French and British was crucial to starting the development of national sport. After the confused period of the fall of the monarchy and the first republic, was the dictatorship of the Estado Novo that truly takes early control by the state in sport. The revolution that took place on 25 April 1974 was a radical change in approach over the sport and its development, particularly in the post-revolution where ideas were centrally controlled by the communist party-dictated laws. After the eighties of the twentieth century came to a trial period of adjustment with the European policies, yet being always subject to more situations than electioneering samples and properly directed at the development policies necessary. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.