World-Class Positioning in Jump Rope: Portugal Makes a Statement
In the heart of Guimarães, Portugal, lies the oldest rope skipping club in the country – the Rope Skipping Club of Taipas, founded in 2009. This vibrant community, located in Vila de Caldas das Taipas, has been home to 70 athletes and counting, with some registration requests for the next season.
Despite its rich history and growing membership, the club faces significant challenges. The support from the Guimarães Municipal Chamber and the Caldas das Taipas Parish Council is not sufficient to finance tournament participation or pay salaries. Moreover, the club does not have any athlete who can dedicate themselves professionally to training in the sport.
The current board of the Portuguese Rope Skipping Association (APRS) is working towards obtaining the Status of Public Utility and demonstrating financial independence and organized accounting for a certain period of time. This is a crucial step towards securing stable funding for the club and its athletes.
One of the club's most notable members is João Rodrigues, a Portuguese athlete who recently competed in the World Rope Skipping Championship in Kawasaki, Japan, on July 23rd. João, who has been linked to the Rope Skipping Club of Taipas since its foundation, along with seven other Portuguese people, competed without significant support and paid out of their own pocket.
Their hard work and dedication paid off when Portugal, represented by the APRS, finished 4th in the Double Dutch Speed Contest at the World Championships in Japan. A video of the Portuguese selection's performance, featuring João Rodrigues, David Silva, and João Vieira, has gone viral, surpassing 50,000 likes on Instagram.
The club's head coach, Angelo Santos, prepared the athletes for the competition with a demanding and meticulously planned training routine. This dedication is reflected in the fact that 10 of the club's 70 athletes compete internationally.
The Rope Skipping Club of Taipas aims to bring rope skipping to all schools in the region. Sandra Freitas, the club's president, was involved in the project since its beginning in 2009. The club's ultimate goal is to foster a love for the sport and provide opportunities for young athletes to excel.
However, the exact funding and support structure of the Portuguese Rope Skipping Club of Taipas remains unclear. Typically, community sports clubs like the Rope Skipping Club of Taipas receive funding and support from a combination of local municipal or regional government sports grants, sponsorships from local businesses or companies, membership fees from participants, support from schools or educational institutions, community fundraising events or donations. For more specific information, it would be necessary to contact the club directly, consult local sports authorities in Taipas, or check official websites and local government resources related to sports and community clubs.
Despite these challenges, the Rope Skipping Club of Taipas continues to make strides, both on and off the court. In 2024, the Portuguese Rope Skipping Association (APRS) returned with 14 medals from the European Championship, demonstrating the potential of this resilient club and its dedicated athletes.
The Rope Skipping Club of Taipas, despite its rich history and growing membership, struggles with financial challenges that hinder tournament participation and salaries. Regardless, the club's athletes continue to excel in sports, such as João Rodrigues who competed in the World Rope Skipping Championship, proving their dedication to the sport.
To secure stable funding, the club's current board is working towards obtaining the Status of Public Utility and demonstrating financial independence. This will not only help the club but also provide opportunities for young athletes to excel in rope skipping.
