Zaragoza, Mar 27 (EFE).- Historic high-level athletes from Zaragoza, Olympic, World Cup and international athletes, as well as those who now compete in the elite, both those born in the city of Zaragoza and those based in it, have given their support this Monday to the official presentation for the European Capital of Sport 2026.
Representatives of sports federations of all kinds, clubs and companies that regularly support both competitive and recreational sports have also attended the presentation in the Zaragoza City Hall Reception Hall.
Names such as the Olympic medalists José María Esteban Celorrio, Fernando Arcega or Demetrio Lozano, or the Paralympic multi-medalist Teresa Perales have attended the launch of this candidacy that will be presented under the slogan ‘Zaragoza inspires sport’, whose headquarters will be announced next June.
All of them have joined their support through video athletes from different sports modalities who are in full swing of their sports career such as Ánder Herrera, Salma Paralluelo, Francho Serrano, Esther Briz, Álex Dujshebaev, Carlos Alocén or Carlos Clos.
The Councilor for Sports, Cristina García, and that of Public Services and Mobility, Natalia Chueca, have presented the project that seeks to promote sport as an intrinsic part of the city model with a double objective: to promote healthy lifestyle habits among the entire population, in increasingly sustainable and emission-free environments.
In addition to reinforcing the policy of attracting national and international events that put Zaragoza on the map and generate positive impacts in economic, social and media terms.
In this sense, the request of the Aragonese capital to host the final four of the Copa del Rey basketball in 2026 has been revealed, and that it has already hosted it twice, in the 1991 edition and the last time in the 2005.
The candidacy has already been officially presented to the ACES Europe entity, a non-profit association based in Brussels that assigns this recognition every year with the aim of promoting private and public initiative to increase support for sport, not only from a professional point of view, but also as a channel for social cohesion and to improve the health and quality of life of citizens.
Cristina García has described this candidacy as “brave and necessary” to put sport in the spotlight and as a “fundamental axis”, at the same time that she has valued the support they have received from all the elite athletes for “all together to force”.
“The city is prepared and willing to accept the challenge of being the Capital. Without you it would be impossible ”, she added while she was convinced that Zaragoza will continue to be the cradle of great athletes in the future.
Teresa Perales, who has acted as spokesperson for all athletes, has recognized that it is “a privilege and a pride as an athlete” to support the candidacy and “their hair stands on end to see so many athletes”, at the same time that she has stated their confidence that the candidacy will succeed.