Emilia-Romagna bids for European Region of Sport 2029 title

The Emilia-Romagna region has officially submitted its candidacy to become the ‘European Region of Sport 2029’, a title awarded by Aces Europe. The bid highlights the region's extensive sports infrastructure, its integration of sports with health and welfare policies, and a calendar of national and international events expected to generate over 530 million euros for the local economy.

Data supports the candidacy, showing that approximately 1.8 million people in the region practice sports, representing 41.2% of the population. The region also hosts 8,102 active sports clubs, accounting for 7.5% of the national total.

In a separate regional initiative, the Emilia-Romagna administration is funding 37 projects across 29 municipalities to promote legality and prevent organized crime. These projects, totaling over 2 million euros, focus on the social reuse of confiscated assets, combating mafia infiltration in the economy, and preventing youth delinquency and digital violence. Bellaria-Igea Marina is among the recipients, receiving 20,000 euros for initiatives related to civic education and responsible citizenship.