Umag Awarded European Town of Sport Title

Umag (Photo: Ivo Biocina/CNTB)

The Istrian town of Umag has been awarded the title of European Town of Sport after a session in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Umag was one of 11 towns to be named a European Town of Sport by the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation (ACES Europe).

ACES Europe is a non-profit association based in Brussels which assigns every year the recognition of European Capital, City, Community, and Town of Sport.

The allocation of these recognitions is done by ACES Europe, according to the principles of responsibility and ethics, being aware that sport is a factor of aggregation of the society, improvement in the quality of life, psycho-physical well-being and complete integration within social classes in the community.

Umag is noted for its recreational activities and sporting events it holds, most notably the ATP tennis event – Croatia Open – at the Stella Maris centre.

Stella Maris in Umag (photo: coloursofistria.com)

The European Town of Sport title was open to towns with less than 25,000 inhabitants.

The ACES says that the title will bring a number of advantages to Umag.

“The benefits include international recognition, high visibility, participation in the several congresses and conferences we use to do during the year, the opportunity to participate in different UE grants with other cities and put in value the sport policies of the town,” ACES listed.

Umag

Spanish towns La Nucia, Candeleda and Navia, Airola, Andora, Corbetto and Montalbano Elicona in Italy, Olympia in Greece, Schladming in Austria and Suomussalmi in Finland were also awarded the titles.