São José do Rio Preto and Franca Dominate 2026 Jogos Regionais with Outstanding Performances

The 2026 Jogos Regionais, held in Penápolis and Barretos from July 16 to 26, saw remarkable performances from São José do Rio Preto and Franca, securing top honors in this prestigious regional sporting event.

São José do Rio Preto claimed the overall championship at the 68th edition of the Jogos Regionais in Penápolis with an impressive 340 points. Boasting the largest delegation of 521 members competing across 47 sports categories—including youth brackets like Sub-13 to Adult—the municipality’s success is attributed to consistent investment in sports development, particularly youth programs. According to Mauro Lacerda, Secretary of Sports and Leisure, the victory was a product of meticulous planning and commitment: "These achievements are the result of planning, investment, and the daily work of athletes, coaches, and the entire support team." The city’s athletes triumphed in athletics, badminton, basketball, and multiple other disciplines.

Meanwhile, Franca successfully defended its title at the Jogos Regionais in Barretos with 309 points, standing out among 54 participating cities. Coming in second was Araraquara with 294 points, followed by Ribeirão Preto, Sertãozinho, and São Joaquim da Barra. Franca’s broad athletic excellence spanned men’s football, women’s basketball, tennis, chess, gymnastics, badminton, capoeira, cycling, judo, taekwondo, and beach volleyball, among others. Notably, Franca scored points in every sport for the first time in recent years, a factor credited by Roberto Saad, the Secretary of Sports and Culture, as key to their success. The city plans to participate in the upcoming 88th Jogos Abertos with a delegation of 231 people competing in 29 sports.

Both cities demonstrated strong support structures, including coaching, medical services, and logistics, enabling athletes to focus on competition and perform at their best. These results highlight the regional sporting prowess of São José do Rio Preto and Franca, underscoring their commitment to fostering athletic talent across multiple disciplines.

As the 2026 Jogos Regionais draw to a close, these achievements set the stage for continued excellence and competition in the forthcoming Jogos Abertos and beyond.