In the inauguration of the 2022 Friendship Tournament, the largest school competition in Latin America in terms of participation, Father Simán LC, territorial director of Mexico and Central America and president of the steering committee of the Semper Altius and Red Prepa Anáhuac school networks, emphasized that in sports, winning is not necessarily the most important thing, but rather shaping good people, where sports greatly help to achieve this.

 

Under relentless rain and the constant accompaniment of more than 10,000 people occupying the bleachers of the Alberto “Chivo” Córdova university stadium at UAEM (Toluca, Mexico), the 39th edition of the Friendship Tournament was inaugurated, an event organized by the Semper Altius School Network, Prepa Anáhuac, and the Mano Amiga Schools Network. Authorities from the State of Mexico, territorial directors of Mexico, Father Alberto Simán, LC (Mexico and Central America), and Father Carlos Gutiérrez, LC (Northern Mexico); directors of the organizing institutions, Legionaries leading several of the participating schools, parents, consecrated persons, lay consecrated members of the Regnum Christi, media, and the general public attended the event.

More than 7,900 participants from Mexican institutions and countries such as El Salvador, Colombia, and the Philippines gathered to compete in disciplines such as taekwondo, tennis, swimming, golf, soccer, 7-a-side football, 9-a-side football, basketball, volleyball, and athletics.

The inauguration was led by Alfredo Del Mazo, governor of the State of Mexico, who highlighted that “the tournament is an opportunity that allows us to come together in this new stage after overcoming the pandemic in the educational field, so I wish all participants the greatest success.” He added, “I thank the Legionaries of Christ for their contribution to education.”

For his part, Father Alberto Simán, LC, territorial director of Mexico and Central America, and president of the steering committee of the Semper Altius Schools and Prepa Anáhuac, emphasized the importance of promoting sports in schools. “Finally, we are reunited; it has been two years without a Friendship Tournament. Many of you undoubtedly had the hope of coming, of sharing, and as the motto says, the encounter is our victory, and in sports, winning is not necessarily the most important thing. For us, it is about shaping good people, and sports help us a lot to achieve this,” he stated.

For Alejandro Santa Cruz, president of the Friendship Tournament, “this sports competition serves to send a message of peace, reconciliation, and unity to the world, I invite you to take the opportunity to become the best version of ourselves,” he said.

An important point to highlight is that besides the sports competition, the Fair Play Semper Altius recognition was evaluated and awarded, a set of actions, attitudes, and skills that the host school and all participants of the Friendship Tournament (athletes, coaches, delegates, parents, community, etc.) must live and practice to achieve a true encounter with God through sports and healthy competition. In this 2022 edition, the winner of both the Friendship Cup and Fair Play was the school Cumbres León.

The Friendship Tournament demonstrates the importance of comprehensive education, teamwork between family and school, and promoting spaces conducive to personal development.

To learn more about the Friendship Tournament, you can visit:

Friendship Tournament Toluca 2022 – Video

Website and social media:

https://torneodelaamistad.com/

Facebook

Instagram

Image Gallery

With information from: Friendship Tournament website / Regnum Christi Mexico Communications Office

Images: Regnum Christi Mexico Communications Office