WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT?
The European Capitals of Sport Association (ACES), in line with its way of understanding sport, attempts to keep up the Olympic tradition and spread the universal values of Olympism at the municipal level, encouraging habits in society, as well as the enjoyment of exercise, commitment to achievement, a sense of community, putting fair play into practice and improving health.
WHO ISSUES THIS DISTINCTION?
This award is given by ACES, an association created in 1999 in the city of Milan (Italy) as a non-profit organization. Its activities are based on the Manifesto of the European Capitals of Sport and it is included in the European Commission’s White Paper on Sport..
WHAT CRITERIA ARE USED TO CHOOSE THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORTS?
ACES’ primary aim is to foster the universal values of Olympism at a municipal level. Just as the Olympic rings are linked to one another, so are the five objectives of ACES’ member cities:
• Enjoyment of exercise
• Commitment to achievement
• Sense of community
• Putting fair play into practice
• Improving health
These are the aims that the ACES member cities seek to promote for all people, whether young or old, natives or foreign, and with or without functional diversity.
To achieve these five objectives, each year ACES awards the title of European Capital of Sport to a European city with over 500,000 inhabitants. Furthermore, each year different cities in Europe receive the distinction of European City of Sport for their contribution to promoting the Olympic spirit and sporting and physical activity, along the lines set out in the five aforementioned objectives. In addition, innovative practices in municipal sports policies are rewarded.
The decision takes into account the effort made in the field of physical and sporting activities and sports culture in the previous three years. These include among others:
1. Sustained promotion of sports.
2. Improvement of health through sport in all social segments of the population.
3. Integration of different population groups through sport.
4. Development of infrastructures for sports.
5. Carrying out innovative projects.
6. Organization of relevant sporting events and competitions
WHAT DOES THE ACES AWARD MEAN?
Firstly, it is an acknowledgment of the work done by the Valencia City Council as regards sports. With this award, Valencia is now part of the Network of European Capitals of Sport, along with the big capitals of Europe. In addition, this distinction is an endorsement that the city of Valencia is strengthening its work as regards sport according to European standards.
Moreover, the fact that Valencia is receiving this award means that our city will be held as an example as regards research, innovation and the promotion of local sport on a European level. This work will be carried out jointly by the Network of European Capitals of Sport and the Valencia City Council through its Municipal Sports Foundation.
In addition, on being chosen as the European Capital, Valencia is working to create a European Sports Culture Research Council under the supervision of ACES, with its permanent headquarters in Valencia and an itinerant presidency.
AWARD-WINNING CITIES
The cities that have won the award to date have been:
2001 |
Madrid |
2007 |
Stuttgart |
2002 |
Estocolmo |
2008 |
Varsovia |
2003 |
Alicante |
2009 |
Milán |
2004 |
Glasgow |
2010 |
Dublín |
2005 |
Rotterdam |
2011 |
VALENCIA |
2006 |
Copenhague |
2012 |
Estambul |
|
|
2013 |
Amberes |
THE STRENGTHS OF VALENCIA’S CANDIDACY
The city has received this international distinction for various reasons, including:
Planning as a guide Based on empirical studies from research by independent institutions like the University of Valencia, the Sociological Research Centre and the Sports Council, we provide the city of Valencia with what its citizens demand: education in values, habits, healthy sports ...
Achievement of these objectives has been set by three technical documents that have governed the running of sports policy in Valencia: Master Plan - what activities we do; Direction Plan - where we do them, and the Management Plan - how we should do them. Since 2010 these goals have been put forward within Valencia’s Strategic Plan for Sport.
Do sport with us This is the model for fostering sport for all through participatory sports programmes. We provide for all age ranges and conditions. Children, youths, adults, seniors, disabled people... they all do sport with us.
Valencia is the city that organises the most running races in the world. This fact in itself indicates the importance of popular sport for the City Council of Valencia.
Facilities for all
112 sports facilities in the city.
1,596,857 m2 area dedicated to sport.
From 2009 to 2011, an investment of Ä 42,000,000 has been approved for the construction and renovation of public sports facilities.
A lack of public sports facilities is no excuse for wValencians not to do sports.
Big sporting events, encouraging sport for all An effort is being made to bring major championships, trophies and sporting events to the city in order to give people access to spectator sport and create a “sports environment.”
For example, the America’s Cup has led to the creation of the Sailing School, and the 12th World Athletics Championships in Valencia in 2008 created the “Guide to Teaching Athletics”.
VALENCIA WANTS TO WORK FOR EUROPE
Valencia has proposed the creation of a European Sports Culture Research Council under the supervision of ACES with its permanent headquarters in Valencia, this city assuming the role of its secretariat. Its presidency will be itinerant, going to the city that is chosen as European Capital of Sport that year.
European Municipal Sports Research Centre This is a research forum into different sciences applied to municipal sports under the supervision of ACES with its headquarters based in Valencia and an itinerant presidency. This is a proposal on which the Valencia City Council is working through its Municipal Sports Foundation. It represents the greatest legacy that will be left to the city once its term as European Capital is over.
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES IN VALENCIA, EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT 2011
To mark this award, Valencia City Council has scheduled a series of sporting, cultural and educational events through its Municipal Sports Foundation to be held in the city in 2011.
RECEPTION OF THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT FLAG FOR VALENCIA 2011
This is to be held on 2nd December 2010 in the Petxina Sports Culture Complex. This event will be attended by various personalities from the world of sports and the city’s top sportspeople.
A PEOPLE’S WELCOME FOR THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF SPORT, VALENCIA 2011
On Thursday 30th December 2010, coinciding with the traditional San Silvestre running race in Valencia, people will see the big European year of sports for Valencia come out of the starting blocks with various events being held that are open to all citizens.
PRESENTACIÓN DEL PLAN ESTRATÉGICO DEL DEPORTE
El Plan Estratégico del Deporte Valencia 2010 es un documento que recoge todo el “proceso de análisis y reflexión sobre la situación actual de la práctica de actividad física y deporte en nuestra ciudad, conjuntamente con el resto de agentes deportivos que intervienen, proponiendo posteriormente líneas futuras de actuación”. Actualmente está en proceso de elaboración y el objetivo es presentarlo durante el primer trimestre de 2011.
PRESENTATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOR SPORT
Valencia’s Strategic Plan for Sports 2010 is a document that lists all the “processes of analysis and reflection on the current status of doing physical activity and sport in our city, along with other factors and people involved in sports, later putting forward future lines of activity.” It is currently under development and the aim is to present it during the first quarter of 2011.
PEOPLE’S RUNNING RACE CIRCUIT GALA IN VALENCIA
On Friday 14th January, 2011, in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Valencia, the closing ceremony of the 6th People’s Running Races Circuit will take place and the 7th Running Races Circuit will be presented, with the races included in it and new features. It is anticipated that approximately 1,500 people will be participating.
In addition, trophies will be awarded to those who finish first in each category and gifts handed to all athletes who have completed a minimum of eight races.
1ST “CITY OF VALENCIA” SPORTS LAW CONFERENCE
29th and 30th October 2010, Petxina Sports Culture Complex. This aims to spread awareness of legislative issues that may contribute decisively in the near future to changing the direction of the current system of sport.
VALENCIAN SPORTS AWARDS CEREMONY
The City of Valencia Sports Merit Awards were introduced in 2000 with the aim of acknowledging the best sporting achievements, as well as the work done in favour of sport by different bodies and sportspeople from the city. This event will be held during the first quarter of 2011.
The prizes are awarded in a ceremony held in the city’s Plenary Hall with representatives from the sports world. It has become a must in the city’s sporting calendar.
1ST EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURES
This will be held from 31st March to 2nd April 2011.
CONGRESS ON HEALTH AND SCHOOL SPORTS
This will be held in the 2nd fortnight of October 2011.
1ST EUROPEAN SPORTS VOLUNTEERS MEETING
To mark the European Year of Volunteers, for the first time Valencia will be hosting a European meeting on volunteers at sporting events.
CLOSING CEREMONY FOR THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL
Coinciding with the 31st People’s Marathon of Valencia, the official closing ceremony will be held for our city as European Capital of Sport 2011.
Alongside the strictly sporting events, a series of cultural activities related to sports are scheduled:
1· Photography exhibition on half a century of sport in Valencia (first half of 2011).
2·Photography exhibition on popular sport in Valencia (first half of 2011).
3·Exhibition of paintings and sculpture (May-September 2011).
4·Two publications from the Sports Hall Collection.
This calendar of sporting and cultural events may be changed and extended in the near future.
OTHER SPORTS EVENTS
All the sporting events that are taking shape for 2011 to be held in the city will be included in the programme as European Capital.
