FC Porto’s “Corrida do Dragão” Attracts Record Participation in 2025 Edition.

Roger Hampel

Image: FC Porto

The 2025 edition of “Corrida do Dragão”, FC Porto’s annual community running event, recorded double the number of participants compared to last year, confirming its status as one of the largest mass-participation sports events in northern Portugal. The event once again turned the streets of Porto into a celebration of sport, community, and club spirit.

A Growing Tradition Linked to Estádio do Dragão

Now in its sixth edition, Corrida do Dragão combines two formats — a 10-kilometer race and a 5-kilometer Caminhada (walk) — both starting and finishing in the vicinity of Estádio do Dragão, FC Porto’s home stadium.

Organizers estimated participation of more than 12,000 runners and walkers, with this year’s event surpassing expectations and drawing fans, families, and local residents for a day of sport and community engagement.

Message from Club President André Villas-Boas

FC Porto President André Villas-Boas gave the official starting signal and underscored the event’s importance in the club’s wider mission to promote amateur sport and social participation.

“Events like Corrida do Dragão are about much more than running — they represent a connection between FC Porto, the city, and the people,” Villas-Boas said. “We want every member to feel like an athlete of FC Porto, recovering the amateur spirit that has always been part of our identity.”

Sport, Community, and Club Identity

The Corrida do Dragão exemplifies FC Porto’s approach to community-focused sporting initiatives, blending athletic participation with the club’s historical values of solidarity and inclusiveness. The event aligns with the club’s broader objective to encourage healthy lifestyles and grassroots sports development in Porto and the surrounding region.

The race also provides a visible link between FC Porto’s professional organization and its supporters, reinforcing the club’s social responsibility agenda through active participation rather than sponsorship or promotional campaigns.