Portimão (Portuguese pronunciation: [puɾtiˈmɐ̃w]) is a Portuguese town (Portuguese: cidade) located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal.[1] It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão (IPA: [ˈvilɐ ˈnɔvɐ ðɨ puɾtiˈmɐ̃w]). In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão Municipality has 50,454 (as of 2009; INE). The two most populous towns in the Algarve are Portimão and Faro.
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Portimão is known for its sporting events. In the summer, a beach soccer tournament called the Mundialito de Futebol de Praia ('Little World Cup') is held. The Lisbon to Dakar Rally passes through, and there is also surfing and kitesurfing.
Being located on the South coast of Portugal, Portimão is well known in the sailing world for being an ideal location for sailing on the Atlantic Ocean, boasting much calmer seas and weather conditions than the Western coastline.
Portimão is the host venue for many prestigious sailing events including the annual Portimão, Portugal Match Cup event which is a part of the World Match Racing Tour. The event draws the world's best sailing teams to Portimão in a gladiatorial battle of nerve and skill on the water. The identical supplied (SM-40) boats are raced two at a time in an on the water dogfight which tests the sailors and skippers to the limits of their physical abilities. Points accrued count towards the World Match Race Tour and a place in the final event of the season, with the overall winner taking the title ISAF World Match Racing Tour Champion. Match racing is an ideal sport for spectators in Portimão. Racing in such close proximity to the sea shore provides excellent heart of the action views for the audience along the beaches and in the public areas.
The Portimão coastline has also been host to the sport of powerboating. The Portuguese Grand Prix of the Sea run by Powerboat P1 as part of its international championship is also held in Portimão.
In the hills near Portimão stands the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve. Finished in October 2008, it is a race and test circuit officially recognised for the highest categories both for cars and motorcycles. Superbike races, Le Mans Series races and F1 tests are scheduled.
There is also an annual grand prix of rhythmic gymnastics, with an individual all-round competition, a team all-round competition, and finals by apparatus and by group at senior and junior levels.
Since 2008 a ferry company[2] has operated a weekly service from Portimão to Funchal, Madeira.
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