Global Network for Sports Development
The idea of Madrid as the European Capital of Sports in 2000 sparked a movement that has grown into a global network. This network, recognized by the European Union and partnered with UNESCO, now spans over 5,000 cities across more than 50 countries and four continents. The network’s primary goal is to promote sports as a tool for social well-being and economic development.
By 2025, Spain is expected to have several cities and regions recognized as European Sports Cities, Regions, and Villages. These include Asturias as a European Sports Region, Alcobendas, Segovia, Toledo, and Santurtzi as European Sports Cities, and Calanda, Luarca, and Alcaudete as European Sports Villages. Representatives from these cities and regions presented their projects in an event attended by Gian Francesco Lupattelli, president of ACES, and Hugo Alonso, general secretary of ACES.
Local Initiatives for Sports Development
Yolanda Caballero, mayor of Alcaudete, presented the town’s plans for promoting sports and physical activity. The town will host a gala in January to showcase its sporting life, followed by a stage of the Tour of Andalusia in February. Throughout the year, the town will engage with local clubs and associations to promote sports practice, create soccer and basketball camps for children, and host karate exhibitions with national champions.
The town aims to demonstrate its hospitality for various sports practices and improve its facilities to make them more accessible to all neighborhoods. By doing so, Alcaudete hopes to contribute to the global network’s goal of promoting sports as a tool for social well-being and economic development.