Candidature for European Town of Sport 2026

It is with great pride that the Region fully supports the initiative taken by the Paola Local Council in submitting its bid for the title of ACES European Town of Sport 2026. This commitment reflects our shared vision of promoting social engagement, community wellbeing, and intergenerational participation through sport and physical activity.

Our support for this bid is rooted in the findings of the Social Impact Assessment conducted by the Region in 2023–2024, which clearly highlighted the community’s need for stronger social interaction and opportunities for people of all ages to engage in shared activities. Sport was identified as one of the most effective tools for building cohesion, inclusion, and resilience within our towns. The Paola initiative directly responds to these priorities and is a natural extension of the Region’s strategic vision derived from the study.