After the Evaluation Commission of ACES Europe (President Gian Franco Lupatelli, Secretary Hugo Alonso, Bilyana Mircheva, Luke Vorel Adams and Danilo Montanari) visited the island of Lošinj from May 28 to 30, 2019, when, on World Sports Day, the entire sporting offer of the island and all sports clubs and associations was presented, Mali Lošinj has officially been given the title of the European Island of Sport for 2020, reports HRTurizam on June 15, 2019.
During their stay in Lošinj, the commission gained insight into the entire sports infrastructure of the island, and besides the terrain, it was crucial to demonstrate that a large number of islanders of different ages use their leisure time engaged in various sports activities. The highlight of the event, along with the official presentation of the candidacy at the Museum of Apoxyomenos, was a presentation in the Bočac sports hall where all sports clubs and associations that are professionally or recreationally engaged in sports were presented.
“A great thanks to all sports clubs, institutions, and individuals who were involved in marking World Sports Day and thus helped us in the candidacy for the European Island of Sport in 2020. Conquering this title is a great opportunity for positioning and branding the entire island of Lošinj as a sports destination, with easier access to significant European funds for further investment in sports and sports infrastructure, i.e., the construction of a new sports hall, football field, swimming pools, and bicycle paths. Our island has a long history of sports, numerous teams, and champions in various sports, and each success has contributed to winning this title,” said Mayor Ana Kučić.
Gian Francesco Lupatelli, president of ACES Europe, stressed that the association is honored to proclaim Lošinj the European Island of Sport in 2020. Mali Lošinj is an excellent example of a place that demonstrates how to engage everyone in sports, and is actively involved in raising the health of all its inhabitants, their education and their self-esteem, which are the main goals of the ACES association in Europe.
The award ceremony will be held in November this year at the European Parliament in Brussels when they will also declare the European Capital of Culture for 2023. Namely, in 2020 it is Malaga, in 2021 Lisbon, and 2022 Den Haag.
To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.
