December 12, 2018 – At a ceremony at the European Parliament in Brussels, the Croatian island of Rab was awarded the grand prize – “European Island of Sport 2019”, which is the first time an island has won such a title. The Rab delegation at the ceremony was headed by the mayor of the City of Rab, Nikola Grgurić, and the event was attended by high representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, and ACES Europe, representatives of award-winning cities and media from across Europe.
The president of the Federation of European Sports Capitals and Cities (ACES Europe), Gian Francesco Lupatelli, awarded prizes to the winners in individual categories, and among the winners from Croatia were also the cities of Sisak and Prelog. The capital of sport for 2019 was proclaimed Budapest.
At the solemn ceremony, mayor Grgurić addressed the congregation, thanking all those who were worthy of winning this historic title – the first European island of sports. The recognition enabled Rab to be recognized as a destination among the European sports cities and gives it easier access to significant EU funds for further investment in sports and sports infrastructure. Rab was ranked the third city to withdraw the most from EU funds per capita in 2017.
“I am proud and happy that this title has been given to Rab, our little Mediterranean paradise, which, apart from the 130 years long tradition of organized tourism, can boast of an almost equally long sporting tradition. Sport is a part of our identity but also an authentic lifestyle, and this acknowledgment is just a confirmation of the sport’s awareness, the activities and the success of the city and the island of Rab, and the incentive for further progress. Investment in sports is an investment in the youth and thus – the future. We are proud to carry these labels and will try to justify them in the company of the European sport’s elite,” said Grgurić, while in the background, he presented a promotional video with the beauties and specialties of the island of Rab.
At this year’s Days of Croatian Tourism in Hvar, the most famous Rab manifestation, Rab Fjera, was declared the tourist event of the year, and just a bit before that, in September, the Tourist Board of the City of Rab, according to the Nautical patrol, won the award for the greatest contribution to the development of nautical tourism in Croatia. And just last month, the House of Rab Cakes received the national annual ‘Simply the Best’ award in the category of catering facilities with traditional food and drinks for the Adriatic region.
Bravo, Rab!
