An inspection team of delegates from across Europe are visiting Cardiff this month to decide whether Cardiff should be awarded the title of European Capital for Sport 2012.
Among the delegates is the President of ACES, (European Capitals of Sports Association) Gianfrancesco Lupattelli.
The visit, from Thursday (September 23 ) until Saturday (September 25) will include a full programme of events, including, a welcome by the Lord Mayor at Mansion House, a tour of the city, a visit to the newly opened Cardiff International White Water, and a tour of Cardiff City Stadium to watch the Bluebirds take on Millwall.
Cardiff has firmly established itself as a leading city for sport, offering state of the art stadiums and facilities including the Millennium Stadium, SWALEC Stadium and Cardiff International White Water.
The capital has played host to many national and international events, including the Ashes, Rugby World Cup and FA Cup finals, helping to secure a worldwide audience of millions.
The city is also renowned for its support of grassroots sport with its Sport.Cardiff programme helping to train and deploy hundreds of coaches into schools, sports clubs and communities and has provided over 350,00 participatory opportunities.
The capitals sporting prestige was cemented back in 2009 when it was awarded the European City of Sport status. Since then the capital’s sporting achievements have gone from strength to strength with the city now in the running for the title of European Capital for sport 2012, an award that only one City in Europe can receive in any given year.
Executive Member for Sport, Culture and Leisure, Cllr Nigel Howells, said: “A huge amount of investment has been put into supporting sport in Cardiff. The council has spent time and money in creating a city that can sustain world class events.
“There is no denying the city already has a fantastic sporting pedigree hosting both national and international sporting events. To be awarded the title of European Capital for Sport 2012 would be a huge boost to the city and would propel our status as a top sporting destination even further.
“During the inspection it is my aim to tell the panel first hand about everything that the city has to offer, from state of the art facilities to telling them all about Sport.Cardiff and the grassroots work we have been undertaking.
“The title is a huge opportunity for Cardiff as it not only recognises our commitment to sport, but if successful could result in additional European grant funding to be spent on sport in the city.”
Other cities in the running are Istanbul, Paris and Antwerp.
