The Olympic walkers, with titles at the international level and also in that Grand Prix, will be some of the most prominent participants among the 60 walkers, from 11 countries, expected for the event that is part of the restricted group of competitions of the World Race Walking Tour of World Athletics, in the maximum category of Gold Level, and that has, therefore, more "weight" in a possible Olympic qualification.

Kimberly García, winner in 2017 and 2022, repeats her presence, as well as Brian Pintado, number six in the ranking and who triumphed in the last two editions, and Érica Sena, number 14 worldwide.

The press conference for the presentation of the Grand Prix took place today, in the Albino Maria auditorium, at the Rio Maior Training Center, and was attended by Jorge Vieira, president of the Portuguese Athletics Federation (FPA), Filipe Santana Dias, mayor of the Rio Maior Municipal Council, and Miguel Pacheco, chairman of the board of directors of Desmor, as well as former walker Inês Henriques and coach Carlos Vela.

All emphasized the importance of the competition in Rio Maior.

"Rio Maior has tried and succeeded in affirming itself in the country and in the world as a sports municipality. And this was the sport that gave the 'boost' as a differentiating factor", began Filipe Santana Dias, then giving the floor to the president of the FPA, who considered that Rio Maior's bet on walking was "a stone in the pond in the country and even more so in the region".

Inês Henriques, from Rio Maior, who recently ended her career, was moved when recalling her career in the event -- which began in 1992 and ended in 2023 -- emphasizing the importance of Rio Maior in the "world" of walking.

"It is of great importance to have the country's reference in Rio Maior. Many Olympic champions have already passed through here and all recognize Rio Maior", she stressed, after Miguel Pacheco had anticipated "one of the best editions ever" in terms of the walkers' marks, and before Carlos Vela had highlighted the "training conditions" that exist there.

On Saturday, the central streets of that city in the district of Santarém will receive a total of 118 athletes, on a day full of events and in which the one-kilometer circuit will present specific changes in relation to the layout of previous editions.

At 3:30 pm, the Youth Promotion March is scheduled, followed 30 minutes later by the Promotion March League, which precedes the international event, which is scheduled to start at 6 pm, for women, and at 6:12 pm, for men, a competition in which the 39th National Walking Championship in 20 kilometers is integrated.

The Rio Maior International Grand Prix, which is the result of a joint organization of the Rio Maior Municipal Council, Desmor and the Rio Maior Swimming Club, and which has the support of the Santarém Athletics Association, the FPA and World Athletics, will also have more news, including a parade of athletes from the participating countries, which will take place before the international event.