“Calabria is a candidate to become the European Region of Sport 2028, the prestigious recognition which, for twenty-five years, has been assigned by ACES Europe to the territorial entities most involved in promoting sport as a driver of development, well-being and full participation in community life”. This was stated by Giusi Princi, Calabrian MEP, designated Honorary President of Aces Europe, the non-profit association based in Brussels which for twenty-five years has been awarding the European Capitals, Cities and Regions of Sport prize, promoting sports culture as a tool for health, inclusion and social cohesion.
The Honorary Presidency was awarded to the Hon. Princi during an important, very intense and well-attended ceremony, which took place in Reggio Calabria, in the “Federica Monteleone” Hall of the Calabrian Regional Council. The President of Aces Europe, Gian Francesco Lupattelli, officially awarded the task.
“After the event in recent days in Rome, during which my nomination was made official – explains the Calabrian MEP –, I strongly wanted the official ceremony for the awarding of the Honorary Presidency to take place in my homeland, in Calabria, because this is where my civil and institutional commitment was born and from here I developed the desire to work to enhance sport as a lever for the growth of the entire territory”.
In addition to the Hon. Princi and President Lupattelli, the new Councilor for Sport and Youth Policies of the Calabria Region, Eulalia Micheli, the leaders of the Calabrian sports world and the students of the “Alessandro Volta” Sports Scientific High School of Reggio Calabria, equipped with one of the best sports facilities in Italy and led by the Headmaster, Prof. Marisa Monterosso, also took part in the ceremony.
“It is a source of pride for me – states the Calabrian MEP – to belong to such a large community that for 25 years has recognized sport as an important engine for promoting the culture of well-being and European identity, promoting equal opportunities and contributing to the growth of local realities. In this direction, my commitment continues – concludes Giusi Princi – to build an increasingly solid bridge between Calabria and Brussels in support of sport, a fundamental tool for inclusion, social cohesion and territorial development”.