Porto and Gaia submit a joint application for World Capital of Sport 2027

The Municipalities of Porto and Gaia will submit a joint application to the World Capital of Sport in 2027, to ACES Europe, with the ambition of promoting a complete and innovative program. The city voted World Capital of Sport 2023 was Konya, Turkey, and in the year 2024 will be Sofia, Bulgaria.

Porto and Gaia have been, in the last decade, the scene of sporting events of international projection, with the realization of events such as the Red Bull Air Race World Championship (assistance of more than 850 thousand spectators), the F1 World Championship in Motonautics, the WRC Rally of Portugal – Porto Super Special Stage (assistance of 80 thousand spectators), the final four of the Nations League, the final of the Champions League, international handball tournaments such as the European Under-20 Handball Championship, cycling events, including the Tour of Portugal, the WTT Youth Star Contender 2022 – International Table Tennis Tournament, the Longboard Pro Gaia by WSL – World Surf League, the European Laser Championship, the World Sailing Championship (Finn Gold Cup), the Douro Bridges – Porto & Gaia Open, the Extreme XL of Enduro, the international competition The World Battle – World Series of breaking, among others, which allowed gaining experience and knowledge in the organization of large events.

The two municipalities have a wide range of sports development programs, promoting sports for all and policies to encourage sports practice, also regularly carrying out sports initiatives that move families in public spaces. In addition, they value training sports and invest in the training of children and young people and in the promotion of physical activity in all age groups. Between the two, they support more than 20,000 federated athletes, in the most diverse modalities.

The recognition of the importance of physical activity and sport are determining factors for the construction of a more humane, inclusive, modern, and sustainable society, which is why they represent strategic vectors of municipal policies that seek to follow trends, anticipate expectations, and influence the healthy lifestyle in the various generations.

In Porto and Gaia, sport promotes the noble values of tolerance, respect for others, valuing difference, promoting equal opportunities, inclusion and sharing. Sports excellence is built on solid foundations and sustainable pillars. Sport is developed in a network, fostering partnerships with sports agents, the school network, parish councils and the associative movement, creating consistent relationships that lead to programs adapted to the needs of the populations. In these two municipalities, territorial cohesion, inclusion, citizenship education and the creation of sustainability policies are closely linked with the promotion of sport in its broadest sense. Sports associations are strong and predominant, being relevant partners that they support permanently.

Finally, they have an important network of sports equipment, namely pavilions, swimming pools, sports complexes, stadiums, high-performance centres, high-performance support units in schools, cycle paths, urban parks and green spaces, golf courses, among other infrastructures capable of hosting sports competitions and events.

These reasons lead the two municipalities to promote this joint application for the World Capital of Sport in 2027.