If anyone doubted the importance to the Portuguese of sport and getting into the great outdoors, then a visit to the Algarve in Portugal during February will have put those doubts to rest. Of course the weather in the region is a crucial factor, with dry, mild conditions during the early part of the year permitting sporting events that could only take place during summer in the UK. Another factor is the attitude of the local communities towards sporting activities and events. Whether these be football tournaments, water sports events in the sea or motorsport competitions, there seems to be an endless stream of options for both spectating and taking part.

Here are just a few of the events which were on the sporting calendar during February. The municipal airport near to Portimao is the setting for a series of skysports events that took place on three consecutive weekends starting on the 7th February. The first was a round of the international Skysurf Protour, a crazy version of skydiving where pairs perform all kinds of tricky moves using a specially designed surf board whilst freefalling. The sport was originally demonstrated at the 1994 Winter Olympics and is very popular in this part of Portugal.

Faro was the venue for international football on the 11th of February when the national team welcomed Finland for a friendly match at the Stadium of the Algarve. Portugal are one of the 32 teams taking part in the 2010 FIFA World Cup that starts in June this year in South Africa and although Finland did not qualify, the game will be an important part of Portugal's build-up. Portugal reached the semi-finals in the last World Cup in 2006, beating England along the way.

Other sports with events during February on the Algarve included a Ladie's tennis tournament in Portimao and the 35th edition of the Tour of the Algarve cycling race which also bases itself in Portimao.