Timor-Leste Prepares to Host XII CPLP Sports Games in July 2025
Timor-Leste is preparing to host the 12th edition of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) Sports Games from July 17 to 27, 2025, in Dili. The government has assured that all necessary infrastructure will be ready well in advance, with key venues such as the Dili Municipal Stadium, GMT Athletics Field, beach volleyball courts, and tennis courts expected to be completed two weeks before the event.
Accommodation for the event is well organized, with eight hotels in Dili confirmed to host around 535 athletes and delegates from seven CPLP member countries. These hotels include Golgota Hotel for Angola’s delegation, Novo Turismo for Cabo Verde, Excelsior Resort Hotel for Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, The Beach Garden/The Plaza Hotel for Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe, Hotel Timor for Portugal, and Hotel Ramelau for the Timor-Leste delegation. Brazil’s participation remains uncertain at this time.
Volunteer support plays a crucial role in the event’s success. Nearly 500 university students from various institutions in Dili have been recruited to assist during the games. After a selection process, 200 volunteers were chosen and are currently undergoing comprehensive training. This training covers essential protocols, emergency response, security measures, and event management to ensure they can effectively support athletes and visitors. The volunteers come from a wide range of universities, including Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), Universidade da Paz (UNPAZ), Universidade Católica Timorense (UCT), and others.
The CPLP Sports Games will feature eight sports disciplines: football, beach volleyball, taekwondo, chess, karate, basketball, tennis, and athletics. This event continues a long-standing tradition of sports cooperation among Portuguese-speaking countries, which began in 1992 with the first games held in Portugal. Since then, the games have been hosted by various member countries, fostering cultural exchange and social development through sports.
The Timor-Leste government, through the Ministries of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, and Higher Education, Science and Culture, has worked closely to ensure the event’s smooth organization. The preparation includes infrastructure readiness, accommodation logistics, and volunteer training, all aimed at providing a welcoming and efficient environment for participants.
The 12th CPLP Sports Games in Dili represent not only a major sporting event but also an opportunity to strengthen ties within the Lusophone community, promote cultural understanding, and support the development of youth and sports in the region.