Handball took center stage in the Subúrbio Ferroviário Sports Festival scheduled from August 27 to 30, during a special edition celebrating the event’s 10-year history. Over the course of four days, children and adolescents across various age groups took to the court to experience sports, social interaction, learning, and plenty of excitement. The lineup included the following categories: Girls’ U-16, Boys’ U-16, Boys’ U-14, Girls’ U-14, Mixed U-12, Girls’ Youth (U-18), and Boys’ Youth (U-18).
The program kicked off on Thursday, August 27, with the Girls’ Cadet (U-16) matches. On the court, the girls began a series of games that brought lively action to the João Paulo II Educational Center and marked the first day of handball at the Festival.
Friday saw the Boys’ Cadet (U-16) category take the stage. The matches maintained the event’s high energy, bringing young athletes together for another day of experiences and camaraderie fostered by the Festival.
Saturday featured an even busier schedule, with four categories playing. In the morning, the Boys’ Infantil (U-14), Girls’ Infantil (U-14), and Mixed Mirim (U-12) categories took the spotlight, bringing boys and girls together at different times throughout the day. Afterward, the Girls’ Youth (U-18) category wrapped up the day’s competitions.
In addition to the matches, Saturday also included a discussion session on handball, bringing together three speakers with diverse experiences in the sport: Jonas dos Santos Fiuza, a physical education professional and teacher with the Simões Filho Sports project; Carlos Firmo, a former professional athlete, former member of the Brazilian National Handball Team, and founder of the Hand Social Project., and Tamiris Soares Guerreiro, a former Brazilian youth national team player and current member of the UFBA team. The conversation was moderated by Maiara Bomfim and brought stories, experiences, and diverse perspectives on sports participation to the Festival. The speakers enriched the event by sharing their own journeys in handball and explaining to the audience how the sport—born of passion—evolves into a lifestyle, an exercise in persistence, and a key factor in character building, all while fostering unforgettable comunity experiences.
To round out the Saturday schedule, the audience also enjoyed a performance by Matheus Pretto’s band, which brought music and high energy to the Festival.
On Sunday, the final day of the handball events, the Boys’ Under-18 category took the court to conclude the schedule, bringing the event to a spectacular close.
Now in its tenth year, the Subúrbio Ferroviário Sports Festival has closely followed generations of athletes and helped ensure that sports remain a vital venue for social interaction, personal development, and opportunities for children and adolescents, solidifying its status as a gathering place for athletes, coaches, families, teams, and communities.
Ten years after its inaugural edition, the Festival continues to transform the court into a space for playing, learning, strengthening bonds, and creating new stories, contributing to the social development of the entire Salvador community.
