• The 1st Congress and Expo of Physical Activity and Sports of the Canary Islands, taking place from November 14th to 17th, offers a comprehensive program for practising a wide range of sports

ExpoDeca is the major fitness fair in the Canary Islands. The program of the 1st Congress and Expo of Physical Activity and Sports of the Canary Islands, held at Infecar from November 14th to 17th, features a wide variety of activities for the public, with free admission and different areas dedicated to various sports across the entire fairground. This first major event of the sports sector in the Canary Islands, which over four days brings together government officials, companies, educational institutions, experts, federations, clubs, and athletes, will showcase the many aspects of sports on the islands, with booths, talks, and discussions on its present and future development. Moreover, ExpoDeca highlights the importance of physical activity and healthy lifestyles, offering a schedule that allows people of all ages to enjoy their favourite sports in the best possible environment.

ExpoDeca 2024 is supported by the Government of the Canary Islands through the Department of Education, Vocational Training, Physical Activity, and Sports and organized by the Gran Canaria Council and Infecar Gran Canaria Fair. Fundación Disa, Firgas, Aquavia, Clipper, and Binter sponsored the event by collaborating with Bestial Race.

Entry to ExpoDeca 2024 will be free: visitors can reserve their spots on the official event website, expodeca.es. The site also provides program details and the latest event updates.

Schedule, Hours, and Equipment

ExpoDeca will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 14th, Friday, November 15th, and Saturday, November 16th, and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 17th. Throughout the event hours, various activities are scheduled to promote, showcase, and practice numerous sports, detailed daily on the official fair website (expodeca.es).

Many sports federations have directly contributed to this program, designing an extensive action plan that includes guided sessions with coaches, expert talks, high-level exhibitions, and even official competitions.

Visitors must come equipped with appropriate clothing and footwear, a towel, water, and a mat if needed for open activities. This applies to both outdoor areas and the fitness pavilion. Participation in each activity will be on a first-come, first-served basis in the designated spaces.

Outdoor Sports

Visitors to ExpoDeca will find various outdoor areas dedicated to various sports, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, cycling, archery, table tennis, canoeing, climbing, and pickleball. Obstacle Course Racing (OCR), a sport with growing popularity in the Canary Islands, and Nordic walking will also be featured, with introductory sessions led by the Canary Islands Mountain Federation.

In soccer, ExpoDeca will involve the foundations of Unión Deportiva Las Palmas and Club Deportivo Tenerife. The program includes activities for seniors, youth soccer, men’s and women’s teams, youth national teams, and social projects such as ‘El Poder de la Grada’, a project by Fundación Disa to promote sportsmanship among young fans (an initiative also extended to other sports at ExpoDeca), and ‘Proyecto Desafío’, with exhibitions by inclusion teams from Las Palmas and Tenerife.

An old-timers’ derby, informational sessions on soccer-related career opportunities, and youth futsal matches complete this ambitious, participatory program.

Basketball will be represented with support from Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria and CB Islas Canarias, including appearances by first-team players, masterclasses, and technical talks. A key feature in the ExpoDeca Basketball area will be the 3×3 format, with training sessions and games featuring Canary Islands youth teams and wheelchair basketball with support from ADM Econy.

Time will be reserved for public free play, mixed-team tournaments, and skill contests. Visitors can learn more about basketball rules, meet with Club Baloncesto Siete Palmas for ‘Baloncesto Sin Límites’, or participate in open skill competitions.

Volleyball will have its official competition at the fair with the ‘4×4 Volleyball Open of the Canary Islands Government’. Additionally, ExpoDeca will offer free-play volleyball sessions under the guidance of the Canary Islands Volleyball Federation coaches. Roundtables and discussions with players and referees will cover the sport’s rules and tournament structure.

Paddle tennis will also be featured at the fair, with official events such as the ‘Kia Club El Drago Challenger’ and the ‘IV Canary Islands Cup for Youth Teams’. Visitors will also have a chance to try the sport, with sessions led by certified coaches.

The Canary Islands Tennis Federation will promote pickleball, a rapidly growing sport globally, for its accessibility to new players. Pickleball at the fair will feature daily tournaments, open practice sessions, coaching, exhibitions, and even the Canary Islands Championship.

OCR fans can enjoy various challenges over the four days of ExpoDeca, with the Canary Islands Obstacle Course Racing League promoting the sport alongside its sponsors.

Continuing with ExpoDeca’s challenges, the climbing area will host demo sessions by the Canary Islands Climbing Team, a treat for sport fans.

Table tennis, cycling, and canoeing will each have dedicated space for practice and related activities, as will Nordic walking, with introductory sessions by the Canary Islands Mountain Federation.

Traditional Sports

Traditional Canary Islands sports will be featured, with specific areas for public exhibitions and participation. These include Canary wrestling, shepherd’s leap, stick fighting, and Canary bowling.

The main ramp at Infecar will showcase other local sports, including stone lifting, plow lifting, and stick fighting. This area will also feature Canary Latin sailing, with displays of both barquillos and boats, allowing visitors to see these iconic vessels up close.

Motorsports

ExpoDeca will devote space to motorsports, with a strong following in the Canary Islands. The fair will have a dedicated area for motorsports.

ExpoDeca has also supported Canary Islands rally champion Juan Carlos Quintana, who has carried the colors of the 1st Congress and Expo of Physical Activity and Sports of the Canary Islands in his national appearances.

Fitness and Indoor Activities

Indoor activities at ExpoDeca will take place in Pavilion 5, which is dedicated to sports and health. The event will focus on fitness, feature top companies in the sector, and offer a schedule of public exercise sessions.

This pavilion will host sessions from 10:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday the 14th, Friday the 15th, and Saturday the 16th and from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday the 17th. Attendees are advised to come equipped with appropriate workout clothing, footwear, water, towels, or a mat as needed.

Activities include fitness sessions for all ages, including seniors’ fitness, prenatal workouts, children’s cross-training, and CPR workshops.

Additional sessions for the general public will feature Latin dance, kung fu, tai chi chuan, dance, indoor cycling, pilates, yoga, back strengthening, fitness dance, total body workouts, GAP (glutes, abs, and legs), body combat, G-BOX (cardio workouts with martial arts moves), Zumba, step, and even merengue workshops.

During ExpoDeca, the ‘Gran Canaria Crow Challenge’ (November 16-17) will be held, a popular competition in which around 200 athletes are expected to participate.

Pavilion 7 will also feature a children’s area with traditional games, designed for family enjoyment and young attendees.

More Sports in Pavilion 6

Pavilion 6 at Infecar will promote other sports in collaboration with federations and clubs.

This pavilion will host gymnastics, with high-level demonstrations and training in artistic gymnastics, trampolining, sports gymnastics, and acrobatics. There will also be high-level training demonstrations for the public.

Fencing will have its area, with demonstrations, informational sessions, and open trials for visitors.

Pavilion 6 will host crosstraining on Saturday, November 16, with practical demonstrations, masterclasses, and interactive sessions led by professionals.

Martial arts will also have a dedicated space, with promotions of sports like kung fu, kickboxing, judo, Japanese jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, karate, and aikido.

ExpoDeca: Experience Sports First-Hand

With a packed program, ExpoDeca offers an opportunity to experience sports up close, led by top athletes, clubs, and federations. Visitors will also have hands-on access to their favourite activities in a setting designed for healthy living.