Viana do Castelo was chosen for next year’s European Capital of Sport. The news was received with satisfaction, but no surprise. Those who live here benefit from geography that allows them to use the sea, the river, and the mountains for all kinds of sports.
The president of the Portuguese Association of European Cities of Sport (ACES), Gian Francesco Lupattelli highlighted: “Viana has the fantastic possibility of hosting sports of all kinds, thanks to the sea, the river, and the existing infrastructure”
List of European Capitals of Sports
- 2022 – The Hague (Netherlands)
- 2021 – Lisbon (Portugal)
- 2020 – Malaga (Spain)
- 2019 – Budapest (Hungary)
- 2018 – Sofia (Bulgaria )
- 2017 – Marseille (France)
- 2016 – Prague (Czekia)
- 2015 – Turin (Italy)
Viana do Castelo won already many awards
Viana do Castelo has already been voted the third-best beach town in Southern Europe by the British newspaper The Guardian. One of the best cities in Northern Portugal to live in, and which was awarded the title of Atlantic City of the Year in 2018, has now been chosen to be European Capital of Sport in 2023.
Viana’s investment in sports
The Capital of Alto Minho has more than 5 thousand federated athletes, representing 160 teams from 71 clubs and associations. “ Surfing, canoeing, rowing, sailing, kite surfing, Mountain biking and Enduro. A lot of sports are represented in Viana do Castelo
Sports for everyone
In a region where 85 thousand people live, there are more than 70 clubs , more than 40 modalities officially practiced, 5000 federated athletes representing 160 teams, more than 5000 students involved in sports projects, and more than half of the population (58%) practice some type of physical or leisure activity
Crown jewels are four nautical centers
Viana do Castelo has a variety of sports facilities, but the county’s “crown jewels” are four nautical centers, namely the High-Performance Surf Center, the Canoeing Center, the Rowing Center and the Sailing Center. These facilities are part of the anchor project “Centro de Mar”, which is a commitment to the development of recreational boating and water sports as relevant components for strengthening Viana do Castelo’s position as a “city of nautical Atlantic”. As European City of Sport, 2023
Want to know more?
Association of European Sport Capitals and Cities (ACES Europe) [en]
For all the outdoor junkies: your next big adventure starts in Viana do Castelo!
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