Banská Bystrica (source: Jana Liptáková)
Banská Bystrica becomes European City of Sport
In late May the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation (ACES) named Banská Bystrica the European City of Sport for the year 2017.
Chairman of ACES Gian Francesco Lupatelli included in the official notification letter that the city has developed an exemplary sports strategy with good sports facilities, programs, and activities.
“Your city is a really good example of sport for all as a tool for health, connection, education and respect which form the main objectives of our association,” Ján Nosko, mayor of Banská Bystrica, cited the words of ACES chairman on June 23, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
Nosko emphasized that the honour is a reward for all residents including students and children and commits them to perform all the tasks discussed and set with the commission.
“During the next half-year, we will specify all activities and finances relating to the completion of infrastructure for 2017,” Nosko said, as quoted by SITA.
The European City of Sport will be represented by 12 internationally successful athletes. Each month in 2017 will be dedicated to a specific sporting discipline, according to Martin Turčan, deputy mayor of Banská Bystrica.
“We want to involve in the process a lot of faces who have achieved measurable and beautiful results,” Turčan told SITA.
The city also established the website Emsbb.sk for mapping sport events where all sport venues, clubs and associations could add information and articles about their achievements. Useful and interesting information is also available on social sites, SITA reported.
City authorities began to handle the idea of candidacy in January 2015. In the summer of that year, they met with ACES members. In addition, one year after the preparations began, the city presented its candidacy during the international tourism exhibition Slovakiatour.
Each year ACES awards one city the title of the European Capital of Sport and several others gain the title of European City of Sports. In 2016, 19 cities so far including Košice have held the city title.
The Award ceremony for all cities will be held on November 16, 2016, SITA reported.
