PROVIDENCE - Hundreds of people of all ages waited patiently for their turn to get an autograph and in some cases take their picture with Nani.
      The Portuguese national soccer team star and Manchester United winger was the main attraction of the Youth Day held last Saturday at Rhode Island College. The event was part of the Day of Portugal commemoration in the Ocean State.
      Fans had come well prepared. Nani spent close to an hour signing photos of him they had printed from the Internet, t-shirts, jerseys, soccer balls and even cleats.
      The soccer star described his first visit to the Ocean State as a "very good" experience.
      "I have been very well received and the people have been very kind," he said in Portuguese. "I'm going to take advantage of this opportunity and get acquainted with the area."
      He declined, however, to speak about professional matters.
      "I am on vacation and I'd rather not talk about my professional career," he said.
      Nani was accompanied by his friend Ricardo Vaz Tê of the Bolton Wanderers F.C. England, and Fabio Ivan, who plays for the R.I. Stingrays.
      The autograph session followed an afternoon full of activities enjoyed by dozens of kids of all ages, ranging from a Discover Portugal game and caravel regatta to rock climbing "Pico," relay races and a futsal tournament.
      There was a folkloric presentation, and participants and volunteers also formed a human Portuguese flag on the bleachers of the soccer field, where Ivan joined the lineup of the R.I. Stingrays, at 7 p.m., to take on the Rough Riders.
      "It's been pretty good," said António Ambrósio, coordinator for the Youth Day. "The kids had fun and the soccer players were a plus. It's definitely something to continue and to try to get more youth and the community involved."
      Rhode Island College President Nancy Carriuolo noted how the "Portuguese Day is important" to RIC.
      "We value the Portuguese in Rhode Island for




their contributions to the state and Rhode Island College," she said.
      Paul Tavares, who was representing RIC's Institute of Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies, said the event was "an opportunity to really exhibit the [Portuguese] language and culture, through fun and games, to the next generation."
      In turn, Leonel Teixeira, Chancellor at the Portuguese Consulate in Providence, said he hopes Youth Day becomes a "trademark" of the Day of Portugal commemoration.
      "This is very special; they have a future in this event," he said.
      The Youth Day was the last of a long list of events, stretched over several months, to commemorate the Day of Portugal and Portuguese Heritage in the Ocean State.
      Pilar Coelho, chair of the R.I. Day of Portugal Committee 2009, summed up this year's celebration.
      "It's been an amazing year," she said.