European City of Sport
Coventry wins European City of Sport title for 2019
Great news, Coventry has won the ‘European City of Sport’ 2019!
The Ricoh Arena regularly hosts elite sports such as Wasps Netball, Wasps Ruby, Sky Blues and a variety of international sporting events, so we are thrilled that Coventry has secured this title.
It comes just after Coventry is crowned City of Culture 2021 and before the Ricoh hosts netball for the 2022 Commonwealth games.
The judges who visited the city last month were impressed with Coventry’s ‘exemplary sports policy’ and its aims of ‘health integration and respect’, which are the main goals of ACES Europe.
An important part of the year will be to celebrate the opening of the new water park in the city centre as well as the new 50m pool at the Alan Higgs centre and the sports and wellness hub at the University of Warwick.
The year will also focus on encouraging more young people – especially those that live in disadvantaged communities – to enjoy sport and lead an active lifestyle. This will build on the work that’s already achieving success thanks to projects like In It Together and Go Swim which are seeing people across the city return to sport and physical activity.
Leader of the Council, Councillor George Duggins, said: “European City of Sport 2019 will be a special year for our city, and the perfect build up to City of Culture in 2021, with investment in community sports programmes and grants and huge investment in new sporting facilities – a £36 million waterpark with gym, health spa and squash courts and a new 50m swimming pool at the Alan Higgs Centre.
“We already do lots to encourage our residents to be active and healthy and we will make sure that we work with partners throughout 2019 and beyond to encourage as many people as possible to get active. I’d like to thank the judges for their fantastic comments and all of our partners and local sports clubs who helped us get this win. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year with something for everyone.”
“A city that helps people to build sport and movement in to everyday life will be a better place to live and that’s what I want for my city.”
Nick Eastwood, chief executive of Wasps and the Ricoh Arena, said: “This is fantastic news for everybody connected to the Coventry and Warwickshire area.
“Wasps’ community team has engaged with over 200,000 young people since moving to Coventry, whether it’s providing access to sport for children with special needs to helping adults to improve their fitness.
“We look forward to working with the city’s partners over the coming months to help elevate Coventry’s presence on the European sporting map.”
John Swanson, Vice President ACES Europe said, “Having completed a rigorous assessment process I am delighted on behalf of ACES Europe to be welcoming Coventry into our Europe wide network of sporting destinations. Their successful bid means that the city will now hold the prestigious title of European City of Sport in 2019. We are supremely confident that this will bring with it an incredible celebration of sport in the city, showcasing Coventry’s many unique and exciting sporting assets and its strong tradition of both participation and spectator sport. Not only will the award have far reaching benefits for the entire city, but designation as European City of Sport in 2019 will also provide a fantastic platform for the city as it builds up towards 2021 and its year as UK City of Culture.”
Former Olympian Dave Moorcroft and Chair of Coventry Sport Network said
“The announcement that Coventry has been granted European City of Sport in 2019 gives me great pride. It recognises the hard work that we’re all doing in Coventry and gives real credit to all those organisations making a difference on a day to day basis be it the new sports facilities being developed or the projects that are getting people active.
“Coventry is having a big impact on people and this award further recognises the many achievements the city has to celebrate. I have seen some big changes to our city but I’m most inspired by local people who make changes to their lives through sport and physical activity. Let’s make 2019 a great year and congratulations to all those that helped ensure we won the title of UK European City of Sport”.
The judges were welcomed by members of the Coventry Sport Network and a range of local sports clubs and partners.
A full programme of activities and events is being developed by all the partners in the city and will be available on our website at www.coventry.gov.uk/cityofsport2019 soon.