Bem-vindo a Portugal – Welcome to Portugal

In 2023 the hosting cycle of the Inter-Agency Games fell onto Vienna. With great excitement we took over the flag from our colleagues in Copenhagen last year and our now looking forward to welcoming the Inter-Agency Games family, our athletes, and our friends to Vila Real de Santo António in the beautiful Algarve region of Portugal.

The event will be held in the usual fashion from 18-22 October 2023 with the opening ceremony being held on the 18th, competitions being held on 19-21 October, the closing ceremony and gala held on the evening of the 21st, and regular departures to start on the 22nd.

Your first question will be: “How do I register?”. Our organizing committee will now ramp up logistics. We will work closely with our partner O-Sports in getting all the facilities and hotels ready. In the next few weeks we will send invitation letters to your IAG focal points through whom you will be able to register.

We are in the process of negotiating how to best facilitate Visa issuance with local authorities and will make that information available as soon as possible. We will make sure you will have more than enough time for application and issuance.

What will the package entail? We are not ready yet to discuss prices but we are glad to have found a location that could offer us a more than competitive offer that should suit most budgets. There will be packages in various hotel categories, giving you a choice on how you want to spend your time there, as well as a package without accommodation in case you want to make your own plans.

For now, please remain patient, we will have more to share soon!

91 thoughts on “Bem-vindo a Portugal – Welcome to Portugal”

  1. Good afternoon team and hope that all is well. Please let us know when will the invitation be sent out for our next IAG destination as we might run out of time again with all issues encountered last year with regard to visa issuance.

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  3. Hi Steven and all those that worked on the 2023 Inter-Agency Games. Thank you for all your hard work at organizing the Games this year. They were a great success. The staff from O-Sports were always smiling and were very helpful. Whoever put together the fantastic video recapping all the sports that was shown at the Closing Ceremony did a wonderful job. I have watched it over and over. I met so many friendly colleagues from all over the world, at breakfast in the hotel, on the shuttle, playing Petanque, at the Control Commission meetings, etc. Congratulations to all the Organizers and all the participants. Hope to see everyone next year. 🙂

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  4. Hi Steve, and all,
    Thank you for doing such an excellent job of coordinating all of the events. Do you know where we may find official group/agency images or other recorded videos?

    Regards.

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  6. Dear Organizer ,

    My Name Is Alain Bumba ,
    I regret to inform you that at MONUSCO, more than 90% of our members, athletes, sportsmen and supporters, have postponed the date of their visa application because many people have applied for visas in the DRC. They have not found a place to apply for the visa .
    So, if it’s possible to have enough time to apply well in advance and to know next year’s date, when the date is a bit ready to allow us to apply for visas in advance.
    I’m captain of the MONUSCO basketball team, but I can’t travel because I don’t have a visa. I can’t find a good date to apply for the visa. I’m late applying for the visa.

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  7. Hello
    is the FT colleagues only can participate as an athlete in the games or service contract holders as well? Because we heard that only one athlete of FT staff on behalf of every country with full fund support can participate.
    because the visa is not issued for those who are without UNLP in Afghanistan.

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  8. Do the participants playing pétanque have to bring their own balls or will there be balls to use in Portugal? Coming by air, it is complicated to transport pétanque balls.

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  11. Dears colleagues
    What great opportunity to meet ourself and to get friendship. I’m very interesting to attend to this program. Who is our local point ? I’m from office UNOPS Central African Republic.

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    • Dear colleagues,
      Thank you very much for your interest in Interagency Games 2023 in Portugal. I am starting registration today, please submit your application form duly signed/stamped by HR with their contact detail. The numbers are limited, and registration is first come, first serve basis. The IAG Secretariat has the right to reject any application. The last date of registration & payment submission is 20th August 2023.
      Please use the subject line in email “UN IAG 2023 – Registration” to track the record.
      Please join the UN IAG 2023 WhatsApp group for further communication and broadcasting

      https://tinyurl.com/UN-IAG-2023
      You need to provide the following things at the time of registration.
      • Application form
      • Copy of passport (for players and supporters)
      • Receipt of transfer of payment (Please mention your name and organization on receipt to record)
      • One passport-size picture (soft copy)
      • Selection of the right package (given in the application form)
      • Clear Name of game, supporter, or captain
      • Includes your family as a supporter.
      • Advance booking for additional night or bed
      • Participant/support contact number (to get required information during registration in the database)
      After receiving the above requirements, I will register in the system which automatically goes for IAG approval. Once approved, you will get the Invitation letter and Note Verbal from the IAG. You will be responsible for visas, tickets, meals, and other logistics.
      The IAG package fee is required in EURO, but you must deposit the US$ in the given UNFCU account number. The bank rates are changing multiple times in a day and the UNFCU calculator generates the dollars against each package which is in EURO. Please find below today’s rates.
      Banking Detail:

      Account Holder: Muhammad Irshad Anwer
      UNFCU Member No. 8137209
      Checking Account: 20007313595
      UNFCU ABA/Routing Number: 226078609
      BIC UNUNUS31
      UNFCU: United Nations Federal Credit Union Bank
      UNFCU Address: 24-01 44th Road Long Island City, NY 11101
      manwer [at] who [dot] int;

      Standard Package per person: As of 8-Aug-2023
      • Double/Twin: Room $ 630 Supporter $530
      • Single Room: $730 Supporter $630
      • Child (3-12 years old): $140
      • +3-12 years old): $250 Extra Bed per night: $45 Extra night $47

      3* Hotel Premium Plus Package per person:
      • Double/Twin Room: $680 Supporter $585
      • Single Room: $835 Supporter $740
      • Child (3-12 years old): $138
      +3-12 years old): $250 Extra Bed per night: $45 Extra night $57

      4* Hotel prime energize Package per person:
      • Double/Twin: Room $680 Supporter $585
      • Single Room: $ 845 Supporter $750
      • Child (3-12 years old): $130
      • +3-12 years old: $280 Extra night $100

      4* Castro Marim Golfe & Country Club (Golf Package) per person
      Double/Twin: Room $800 Supporter $530
      • Single Room: $930 Supporter $645
      • Child (3-12 years old): $130 per person
      No Hotel Package per person
      Total price per person (Athlete) $435
      Total price per person (Supporter) $350
      Total price per child (3-12 years old) $140
      Total price per child (0-3 years old) $25

      Terms & Conditions:
      • The fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.
      • Submission/approval of a visa is the sole responsibility of the participant.
      • No registration without advance payment
      • No partial payment, make sure the 100% required fee is transferred, otherwise registration will not be done, and not be possible to inform each participant and the amount will be returned.
      • If due for any reason, you are not registered, your amount will be returned (charges apply)
      • Must be available in IAG from 18 to 22 October 2023
      • IAG reserves the right to take disciplinary action, in case of non-compliance of IAG policies.
      Budget arrangement:
      The ticket cost is around PKR 300,000 (Varies according to airline) and if you want to stay more days in Europe, you need $100 daily which is also shown in your bank statement for visa assistance.

      Due to the high volume of phone calls and emails, you may expect delays. We will use the Whatsapp group for further communication and dissemination.
      Thank you.
      Best Regards,
      (Irshad Anwer)
      IAG Focal person
      WHO Pakistan
      Contact +92 334 5366255

      Reply

  14. Can you tell me how can I register? I work in UNSMIL (United Nations Support Mission in Libya) but I don’t know who is the assigned focal point. Thank you!
    I remain on standby for your answer.

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  15. I was wondering if you’d tell me the deadline of registration? as far as I know, It might be extended but not sure up to when. I’m standing by for your response

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  16. Dear team,
    Trust your are all well doing. Please, how to cancel a participation? I was supposed to be there with my family but at the end, it will not be the case anymore so I will be there alone. How to correct the registration form I shared? Thanks for your support

    Reply

  17. Good morning to all. Kindly note I wish to join as a supporter. Who is the focal point for UNICEF?
    I am from the Chad office and would like to start the registration process as a supporter.

    Reply

    • Dear,
      I am the focal person of IAG, you can contact me for registration and further information.

      Regards,
      Irshad Anwer
      00923345366255

      Reply

  18. Who is the focal point for basketball, football and athletics for UNICEF?
    I am from the Guinea office and would like to start the registration process as a participant?

    Reply

  19. Merci pour cette initiatif d’échange et de rencontre entre collègues des Nations Unies .a part le travail nous devrons avoir quelque temps de distraction d’échange de notions et de culture .

    Reply

  20. Who is the focal person for Table tennis and Volley ball for WHO?
    How can I start the registration process as a participant?

    Reply

  21. Who is the focal points for volleyball at UN HQ or UNJSPF? Do I need to currently be in a team in order to participate/register?

    Reply

  24. Hello @Steven and John YOUNG,

    We need invitation letters to start the visa process as the general invitation letters do not help us at the embassy.

    There is no reply from the focal point as well.

    Can you please give us some details or a contact information to ask for the invitation letters?

    Best,

    Reply

  25. Dear Steve
    It seems there is no follow up on our requests. I requested for focal point for those worked in field mission and have no response from such mission on the way forward but no response. Should that means we should give up to participate. Please advise.
    Regards

    Reply

    • Depends if you are a participants (player) or supporter. There is a special HR memo for participant in the games only.

      Reply

  28. Hi Steven ,

    could you please share IAG FP contact at Algeria CO or MENA region ,so we can get in touch for further information .

    many thanks for your support

    Reply

    • Dear akmal,
      Have you registered yourself in IAG. If you need any assistance, please let me know.

      Regards,
      Irshad Anwer
      0092 334 536255

      Reply

      • Dear Irshad Sb,
        I am Sheraz Ali form UN-Habitat pakistan office I have completed the registration but am not getting the invitation leeter. Can you help me in this regard, so that I can apply for the visa in time?

        Reply

  33. Hi All,
    Please advise if we have a focal point already in Bangkok (UNESCAP) ? We would like to field a basketball team, but I don’t think it has been done before. Please advise how we should proceed to register etc.

    Reply

  34. Hi All,
    Please advise if we have a focal point already in Bangkok (UNESCAP) ? We would like to field a basketball team, but I don’t think it has been done before. Please advise how we should proceed to register etc.

    Reply

  35. Hi Steve, trust you’re doing good, are we expecting invitation and registration process starting soon? if we cannot apply for UNLP we really need to start applying to embassy soon. also getiing flight tickets.

    Regards,
    Hadi (Nigeria focal Person)

    Reply

  39. Hi everyone, I’m from UNESCAP in Thailand. I hope to see you all and I really want to join basketball and look forward to joining the game. That would be Once in a lifetime that is precious to me.

    Reply

  40. Please can you advise who is the IAG Focal Point for WFP (Mozambique). I have tried to find out but did not find that information internally. Thanks

    Reply

  41. Dear Steven and IAG organizing committee,
    Thanks in advance for the arrangements. Looking forward to meeting you all.

    Regards,

    Reply

    • It is self sponsernd. You can find out within your organization if a welfare fund exists and whether it covers some of the costs

      Reply

  47. Hi, we need your facilitation of Visa, hotel, Air Ticket booking and where to be register
    Thank you
    jean-claude Sakisa

    Reply

  49. Waiting for more details to get the visa, since according to the new updates, issuing the UNLP has been restricted by the relevant authority.

    Reply

    • Dear Masoud,
      You can travel on UNLP for Inter agencies games. If you need any further assistance, let me know.

      Thanks

      Reply

  53. Looking forward to it. I am excited to join . Is there special procedure to register asa retired UN secretariat staff?

    Reply

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