The secretary of the Latin Countries Cup

The "Latin Countries Cup" was created in 1995 and the first meeting took place in Romania.  At present six countries with neo-Latin languages take part: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, and, since 1997, Belgium.

Brazil has participated once or twice. We hope to see Brazil, and indeed other Latin American countries, again taking part in this international event.

Besides, other countries could join the group: Canada, Switzerland, Luxembourg etc.  Moldavia has written to the secretariat to express its interest and candidature; also an official observer from Cuba attended a few years ago, at the Portuguese staging of the event.

The competition team consists of three women and three men from each country: two Youths of under 18, two Juniors and two All-age members.  Three events count for the ranking: a medium and a long-distance race, plus a third event chosen by the organiser.  This is either a sprint, a relay or a sprint relay.  The whole competition lasts four days.

The aims agreed by the representatives of the various countries are:

• To organise a friendly meeting to coincide with an international sporting event.  Ideally the "Latin Countries Cup" takes place at the same time as a major national competition.  It is obviously important for the "Latin Countries Cup" to be at the heart of the event.  This has not always been the case in recent years.
• To enable everyone to discover the countries involved.  With this aim in mind the provision of a cultural or tourist visit is enshrined in the statutes.
• To encourage closer links among athletes.  Everyone is pleased that a friendly, informal and convivial atmosphere has always permeated the events, wherever they have been held.
• To improve the development of Orienteering in the Latin countries.  The friendly emphasis does not exclude a competitive spirit.  Over the years the "Latin Countries Cup" has enabled a large number of athletes to experience top-level competition.
• To provide an opportunity to exchange ideas about training methods, pedagogy and youth schemes in Orienteering.

This year Portugal has the task of playing host to the member countries.

After their superb organisation of the 1998 event in the Evora region, Portugal has chosen the North of the country to receive us in October 2004.  On behalf of all the participating countries, as secretary to the "Latin Countries Cup", I would like to wish the Portuguese Orienteering Federation every success for the competition as well as express our pleasure for the opportunity to discover a scenic area of this beautiful country.

Eric Hully,
Secretary

Message of the Commander of the 13th Regiment of Infantry to the Latin Countries Cup – Vila Real ‘O’ Meeting participants.

The Commander of the 13th Regiment of Infantry (RI13), on behalf of its Officers, Sergeants, Soldiers and Civil Employees, welcomes all Latin Countries Cup – Vila Real ‘O’ Meeting participants whishing that they enjoy the landscape, the human, cultural and gastronomical aspects that the region of Vila Real can provide.
It is with an enormous pleasure that the 13th Regiment of Infantry associates with this Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos (GD4C) organization, making everything so that the meeting occurs with high efficiency parameters, dignifying the modality and the prestige of Portugal in its capacity of organization of international sporting events.
To all I formulate votes of sporting success and healthy competition.

The Commander of the RI13,
Carlos Manuel Martins Branco
Colonel

The City Council of Vila Real is pleased to support the Latinum Certamen 2004 organized by the "Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos" which will take place from 2 to 5 October, with the participation of athletes of 7 countries.
Parallel to this one, will be realised another competition integrated in the Portuguese Cup ranking named "Vila Real O' Meeting", which is open to people of all ages.
Both events will take place in the Alvão Natural Reserve and the city of Vila Real.
The name of Vila Real joins an important international competition, showing this way the attention that the sport deserves and will continue to deserve to this city.
On behalf of Vila Real, and on my personal name, I wish to all participants and organizers success for the competition and a pleasant stay between us, in this city which excels by human sympathy and the hospitality of its inhabitants.

Manuel Martins
President of the City Council

The “Serra do Marão” Tourism Region is honoured for supporting the Latinum Certamen organized by the “Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos”.
I am sure that the Alvão Natural Park, the City of Vila Real, its people and the ones coming to compete will find here unforgettable moments to carry in their memories, which will oblige them to come back again.
I wish sporting success for the competition and healthy camaraderie between the athletes.

The President of the “Serra do Marão” Tourism Region

Greetings from the President of the Portuguese Orienteering Federation

It's a pleasure to welcome all of you again: welcome to Portugal, welcome to Marão.
The ancient and traditional portuguese hospitality are at your service, and in this event, all transmontan people will feel honored with your visit.
The organization team and all entities united to prepare this Latinum Certamen Event are doing everything to fulfill every technical, social and sport requirement. Your part is just to come, bring your fair-play and enjoy all conditions to collaborate on the success of this event.
I wish you all a very nice stay and a pleasant and interesting competition.

My best regards,
Augusto Almeida,
President of the Portuguese Orienteering Federation

Message of the President of the Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos

It is a great honor for the Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos to organize this event.
The Organizing Committee will do everything in order to offer the best conditions in technical, logistic and social terms, so to dignify this event in the world-wide orienteering scene.
We wish to all participants the best sporting success and that they enjoy the landscape and the environmental values that this beautiful region offers and we want to preserve.

The President of the Grupo Desportivo 4 Caminhos,
Fernando Jorge Semedo da Costa