Reglamento General ACES América

Edition Julio 2026 · in force since July 18, 2026
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Change history
  • Julio 2026 · Jul 18, 2026Harmonisation of the articles and Appendix VIII in accordance with the decision consultation of July 2026: penalty under Art. 27.2 (graduated table of Appendix VIII); City fee €2,500; Capital requirement "capital of a country"; Evaluation Committee of 5-9 for Capital and 3-6 for Community-Island and City; twelve criteria (Appendix I); 50% rule transferred to Art. 8; reference in Art. 23.1 corrected to Article 5; correction of references to Europe (Appendices IV, VI, VII and VIII); restoration of the Appendix V heading; correction of typographical errors and unification of "ACES América". Incorporation of Appendix X: ACES Programme for International Promotion, Technical Consultancy and Institutional Quality (appendix to Article 26), approved in July 2026.Affected articles: Art. 27.2, 22, 16, 8, 23.1; Anexos I, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, X
  • Mayo 2026 · May 12, 2026Añadida al Art. 26.4 la cláusula de pago con recursos propios (la entidad puede pagar los derechos de imagen con recursos públicos propios sin firmar el convenio de patrocinio) y la nota al pie de traducción del reglamento oficial europeo.Affected articles: 26.4
  • Enero 2026 · Jan 1, 2026Edición inicial.
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Contents
AwardCapitalRegiónCiudadMunicipioComunidad-Isla
TopicRequisitosPlazosTasasObligacionesEvaluaciónGobernanza y marcoOtros
AudienceCandidate cityCommitteeCommon

Preamble

"Sport is part of every man and woman's heritage and its absence can never be compensated for." — Pierre de Coubertin

The benefits of sport for society are an undeniable fact, from a sociological, economic and organisational point of view, among many other aspects. Sport is a powerful driver of human values such as teamwork, tolerance, solidarity and loyalty. Sport is a social phenomenon, a catalyst for society as a means of education, as a means of inclusion, social and cultural transformation, as a way of life, mental health and the fostering of resilience.

Public institutions have already recognised on multiple occasions the importance of sport for citizens as a whole. In 2000, the European Council acknowledged the importance of sport in European society, and the importance of taking it into account when designing common policies applicable to all citizens of the European Union.

The European Commission, through the White Paper on Sport published in 2007, addresses the main issues associated with sport. It seeks to provide strategic guidance on the role of sport in Europe, strengthening the debate on specific sport-related matters and highlighting its importance as a driver of solidarity among the countries that make up the European Union.

However, it was not until 2009, with the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, that the European Union acquired for the first time a specific competence in the field of sport. Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) refers to EU sports policy: "The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function." In addition, Article 6 TFEU refers to sport as one of the policy areas in which the Union has competence to support, coordinate or supplement the action of its Member States.

ACES has the support of the European institutions. The White Paper on Sport, the document that legislates sport in the European Union and highlights its importance for all citizens of the Union, recognises the activity of ACES Europe and the awards it presents at the annual gala held at the European Parliament, reflected in Article 50, where the European Commission expresses its support for the future development of ACES Europe: "In addition, it will seek to give greater visibility to European sporting events. The Commission lends its support to the future development of the European Capitals of Sport initiative."

For ACES Europe, the support of the European institutions is its most important credential and one more reason to continue developing all the activities planned for the fulfilment of its objectives. In addition, agreements and partnerships are maintained with supranational entities such as UNESCO, together with collaboration agreements with CADE (American Council of Sport), which brings together the different Ministries of Sport of the Americas.

Furthermore, ACES Europe has the support of two important associations: EGFA (Euro Parliamentary Group Friends of ACES) and GCE (Groupe Consultatif Européene). Both provide constant and firm support in the European Parliament, guaranteeing the visibility of ACES Europe before the highest European institutions. Both associations are chaired by and composed of Members of the European Parliament.

The strength of ACES Europe within the European institutions and the firm conviction of the legitimacy of its objectives encourage ACES Europe and its members to continue developing their work, which is none other than the promotion of sport in society.

With the aim of enabling the cities and municipalities of the Americas to demonstrate and offer their citizens and the world the importance that sports policies have been acquiring within their goals of development and social integration, the awards recognising those policies are created, with the objective of giving visibility and importance to such actions across the American continent.

These Regulations are ACES America's response to the demand to adapt its public activity and conduct to established rules that grant the entity the credibility that associations such as ACES must have, in order to strengthen the institution on solid foundations of action allowing it to carry out the activity for which it was founded, which is none other than to promote physical exercise and sport across all social strata, to encourage economic support from the public and private sectors so that sport becomes a tool for social transformation through public policies, becoming an economic driver generating wealth in cities. In short, sport is not an expense: it is an investment with social and economic returns.

This document, which establishes and explains the manner in which ACES grants the awards of American Capital, Region, City and Town of Sport, is an indispensable part of the good-governance structure of ACES and ACES America, and is intended to strengthen the procedures associated with the awards granted by ACES Europe and ACES America with the support of various bodies and institutions of international standing.

On ACES and ACES America

Since its foundation in 1999, ACES Europe has sought to promote sport among all citizens of the European Union, especially among the most disadvantaged groups — children, the elderly and people with disabilities, among others.

ACES Europe also seeks to promote private and public initiative in order to increase support for sport, not only from a professional standpoint but as a means of social cohesion and for the improvement of citizens' health and quality of life, reinforcing the role of sport as a driver of economic activity and wealth generation.

The purposes pursued by ACES Europe and ACES America for the cities that are candidates for, or appointed as, European/American Capital, Region, City or Town of Sport are embodied in several main objectives:

  • Enjoyment of physical exercise.
  • The will to achieve the proposed goals.
  • Strengthening the sense of belonging to the community.
  • Learning fair play.
  • Improving health.

Sport is not an expense: it is an investment with economic and social returns. Sport is a tool for integration and social transformation through public policies, pursuing equality and equity through it. Sport is a factor of economic development for municipalities and cities. Sport must be regarded as a State policy by public institutions, with the aim of developing effective policies that properly channel the demands of the citizens.

We also highlight the objective of implementing networking policies among all the cities and municipalities that form part of the ACES network of cities.

With the appointment of Santiago de Cali (Colombia) as the first American Capital of Sport in 2019 and the appointment of Guadalajara (Mexico) as the first American city to be World Capital of Sport in 2020 as milestones of our establishment in the Americas, ACES America is created, headquartered in Santiago de Cali (Colombia), first American Capital of Sport.

For this reason, ACES Europe, through its affiliate in the Americas under the ACES America brand, and in collaboration with UNESCO and CADE (American Council of Sport) and other prestigious entities, will continue its work of promoting sport through the institutions in order to spread the virtues and benefits of the practice of sport and the values it conveys to society, being a fundamental element in achieving the social inclusion of disadvantaged people, following the guidelines of UNESCO in its Kazan Action Plan 2017.

In recent years, the activity, importance and influence of ACES have increased substantially. This phenomenon has raised the media profile of ACES and reinforced its public image, making it necessary for the institution to address its growing responsibility towards public authorities and society at large.

These rules constitute ACES's response to the demand to adapt its public actions and activities to a set of established rules that grant the entity the credibility it deserves. Their aim is to strengthen the institution by providing a solid basis of action enabling it to fulfil the purpose for which it was founded, which is none other than to promote physical exercise and sport at all levels of society.

This document, which establishes and explains how ACES grants the distinction of American Capital, Community/Island, City, Town or Region of Sport, is an indispensable part of ACES's corporate-governance structure. It is also intended to reinforce the procedures associated with the awards granted by ACES.

Title I · General provisions

1. Scope of application.

These Regulations constitute the legal frame of reference for the members of the ACES Evaluation Committees and the representatives of the cities submitting their candidacy for any of the awards. They are intended to serve as a guide for the members of the Evaluation Committees, the participating cities and any person interested in learning about the selection process of the American Capital/Community-Island/City/Town/Region of Sport.

Important: specific requirements for the American Community/City/Town/Region of Sport:

These Regulations establish the rules applicable to the awards of American Capital/Community-Island/City/Town/Region of Sport. Each of the articles refers, by default, to the American Capital of Sport awards. However, in those articles where any particularity exists for the American Community-Island/City/Town/Region of Sport awards, the requirements for those awards are highlighted. Appendix VIII provides a summary table with the main differences between the awards.

References in this article

2. Transparency.

ACES undertakes to carry out its activities in a clear and responsible manner, exercising transparency and diligence at all times, complying with the data-protection laws in force in each country and providing truthful information to the following recipients:

a) The public authorities. b) Members of the Evaluation Committees. c) Society at large, both as recipient and as beneficiary of ACES's activities.

3. Public information.

ACES America will keep interested parties informed about its activities through its website, to which it will periodically upload information on events, initiatives, agreements, activities and other relevant information related to its activity. These Regulations will be publicly available for consultation by any person who may be interested. The official languages of ACES America shall be, interchangeably, Spanish and English, and therefore all official documentation, information or communications may be issued in either language.

Rules applicable to the selection process of the American Capital/Region*/City/Town of Sport. *Region, State or Province, depending on the legal denomination used in each country.

4. Awareness of and adherence to these Regulations.

  1. All persons who form part of the Evaluation Committees of the municipalities submitting their candidacy for any of the awards granted by ACES America must have explicit and formally declared knowledge of these Regulations.

  2. Adherence to these Regulations shall entail compliance with all the sections included herein, and awareness of them shall be recorded by each member of the evaluation team by signing the form included in Appendix III of this document, concerning compliance with the evaluator's code of ethics and the declaration of absence of conflict of interest, respectively.

References in this article

5. On the voting process.

The voting process is the act with which the visits conclude and by which it is decided which municipalities receive the awards. The importance of this fact makes it necessary to develop independent rules governing it. Appendix II of these Regulations offers a detailed explanation of the voting process, and it is available for public consultation whenever interested parties deem it appropriate. It must be known by all members of the Evaluation Committees.

References in this article

6. On the eligibility criteria.

The ACES America eligibility criteria provide the basis for evaluating the candidates for American Capital/Community-Island/City/Town/Region of Sport. The members of the Evaluation Committee assess the cities they visit according to their degree of compliance with these criteria. These twelve criteria address all aspects of sport in the cities. They are available for public consultation by any interested party as Appendix VII of these Regulations.

References in this article

7. On future amendments to these Regulations.

Should these Regulations need to adapt part of their contents to the requirements of the selection process of the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport, the amendments shall be incorporated by the ACES Board of Directors, indicating the changes made and the date thereof.

Title II · On the Evaluation Committee

8. Composition of the Evaluation Committee.

  1. Number of members of the Evaluation Committee. The Evaluation Committees for cities bidding for American Capital of Sport shall be composed of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 9 members.

Specific requirements for Communities / Cities / Towns / Regions / Islands:

  • 1b. For the evaluation of Community-Islands, the evaluation committees shall be composed of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 members.
  • 1c. For the evaluation of Cities, the evaluation committees shall be composed of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 6 members.
  • 1d. For the evaluation of Towns, the evaluation committees shall be composed of a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 members.
  • 1e. For the evaluation of Regions, the evaluation committees shall be composed of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 7 members.

Members of the Evaluation Committees of two cities competing for the American Capital of Sport award. The Evaluation Committees of cities competing for the American Capital of Sport award for the same year shall have at least 40% of members participating in both visits to the competing cities, in order to achieve the greatest homogeneity and objectivity in the scores awarded.

Where two candidacies compete for the same award other than that of Capital, at least 50% of the members of the Evaluation Committee shall participate in both visits.

9. Criteria for membership of the Evaluation Committee.

The members of the Evaluation Committee must have proven experience in the field of sport, whether in the public sphere or in private enterprise. Such experience may be evidenced by professional experience in public office in city councils or other national or international public or private bodies, membership of associations linked to the world of sport, professional involvement in sport-related companies, or the professional practice of a sporting discipline, at present or in the past.

Title III · On the members of the Evaluation Committee

10. Selection of the members of the Evaluation Committee.

The selection of the members of the Evaluation Committee shall be carried out by the Board of Directors of ACES America on the basis of the criteria it deems most appropriate, seeking diversity of profiles and preventing conflicts of interest from arising. In this way, the objectivity of the evaluation process is strengthened.

11. Criteria for exercising the right to vote.

  1. In order to exercise their right to vote, each member of the Evaluation Committee must be free from any conflict of interest among those included in Article 12 and other articles of these Regulations.

  2. Exercising the right to vote requires full knowledge of what is being evaluated. Therefore, in order for a Committee member to exercise their right to vote, they must be present at all the events held during the visits to cities bidding for American Capital of Sport. The content of the visits to candidate cities is specified in Appendix I of these Regulations.

References in this article

12. Conflicts of interest. Situations that may be regarded as a conflict of interest.

  1. The members of the Evaluation Committee shall act loyally in the performance of their duties, guided solely by the purpose and objectives entailed in being a Committee member, which is none other than to select the municipality presenting sufficient merits to be granted the award of American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport, endeavouring at all times to avoid situations that could entail a conflict of interest.

  2. The members of the Evaluation Committee shall at all times be prohibited from using their position to obtain personal benefits beyond their duties as members of the Evaluation Committee.

  3. A conflict of interest may exist where a member of the Evaluation Committee, at the time of exercising their right to vote as such — that is, by assigning a score to the candidate municipality — may have some kind of relationship, whether personal or financial in nature, that could in any way influence their objectivity.

  4. The giving of presents, gifts, services or any other benefits from any person or institution directly or indirectly related to the municipality submitting its candidacy, which could compromise the objectivity of any of the members of the Evaluation Committee, constitutes a situation liable to generate a conflict of interest. The members of the Evaluation Committee may not accept gifts from the candidate city other than tokens of mere institutional courtesy.

  5. Other situations that may give rise to a conflict of interest are the following:

  • a) Sharing the same locality or region as the city being evaluated.
  • b) Belonging to an ACES America delegation in which the city being evaluated is enrolled, regardless of the nationality of the candidate city.
  • c) Having any economic or personal interest beyond the relationship that may exist through ACES America.

Specific requirements for Communities/Cities/Towns/Regions concerning Article 12.5: In the case of Evaluation Committees for Community-Islands/Cities/Towns/Regions, sharing the same nationality as the municipality being evaluated shall not be regarded as a conflict of interest.

13. Conflicts of interest. Course of action.

In the event of a conflict of interest*, the affected member of the Evaluation Committee has the duty to report that circumstance to the Board of Directors of ACES America and to refrain at all times from intervening or participating, directly or indirectly, in the agreements or decisions adopted by it, particularly with regard to the voting process for the candidate municipality.

* A personal conflict of interest is a situation in which a person's private interests, such as outside professional relationships or personal financial assets, interfere — or may be perceived to interfere — with the performance of their duties as a member of the Evaluation Committee.

14. Duty of secrecy and discretion.

  1. The members of the Evaluation Committee must at all times maintain standards of prudence consistent with their role as regards the duty of secrecy and discretion. They shall therefore be required at all times to keep secret the deliberations or opinions, their own or those of others, that take place during the evaluation process of the candidate city.

  2. The duty of secrecy and discretion must be maintained even after the evaluation process of the candidate cities has concluded and the award has been granted. The duty of secrecy and discretion must also be maintained even if a Committee member ends their relationship with ACES America.

Title IV · On the candidate city

15. Steps to follow for submitting the candidacy.

The submission of a candidacy for American Capital of Sport shall follow these steps:

  1. Sending of the letter from the Mayor of the municipality, with their written submission of the candidacy for American Capital of Sport. The period for sending this letter begins on the day after the awards ceremony in Brussels, in November of the second year prior to the year for which the application is submitted, and ends on 30 March of the preceding candidacy year. There may be a maximum of five candidates, whose admission shall be determined by the order of receipt of the Mayor's letter.

  2. From 1 April to 30 June, candidate cities must prepare the candidacy file (see Appendix VI, guidance for the preparation of the bid file). It must be delivered to ACES before 30 June.

  3. Based on the perceived quality of the candidacy bid file, ACES, through an independent third party, will decide which two candidates compete for the award. This communication shall take place before 31 July.

  4. Visits to candidate cities shall preferably take place during the month of October.

  5. The winners shall be officially announced at the annual gala in Brussels, in November or December.

Specific requirements for Communities/Cities/Towns/Regions concerning Article 15: In the case of Community-Islands/Cities/Towns/Regions, the dates — not the steps — are indicative, except for the awards ceremony, which is common to all cases. In case of doubt, consult the ACES secretariat regarding the specific deadlines.

References in this article

16. Criteria for submitting a candidacy for American Capital / Region / City / Town of Sport.

  1. A municipality may be a candidate for American Capital of Sport provided it meets one of the following requirements: having a registered population of 500,000 or more inhabitants, or being the capital of a country.

  2. Two municipalities from the same country may not compete for the American Capital of Sport award.

  3. A municipality may be a candidate for American City of Sport if it has a registered population of between 25,000 and 499,999 inhabitants.

  4. A municipality may be a candidate for American Town of Sport if it has between 1 and 24,999 registered inhabitants.

  5. To bid for the American Community of Sport award, at least three municipalities must join together which, owing to their social, cultural, economic, geographical or historical characteristics, have that possibility.

  6. Those political structures united for cultural, geographical, economic, historical or social reasons may bid for the American Region of Sport award.

17. Adherence to the Regulations.

  1. At least one official representative of the municipality bidding for the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport award must confirm explicit and formal knowledge of these Regulations by adhering to them.

  2. Adherence to these Regulations shall entail compliance with all the sections included herein, and knowledge thereof shall be recorded by signing the form included in Appendix IV of this document.

References in this article

18. On visits to municipalities bidding for an award.

  1. Visits to municipalities bidding to be awarded American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport shall have a standardised visit protocol, including mandatory and recommended aspects, developed so that the members of the Evaluation Committee can gain knowledge of all the sporting spheres of the municipalities being visited. This protocol is set out in Appendix I of these Regulations.

  2. Visits to facilities shall be decided jointly between ACES America and the bid organisation. Accordingly, ACES America shall decide, after consulting the members of the Evaluation Committee, on three facilities to visit, with the remaining visits being decided by the organisation. Such communication shall be made at least one month before the scheduled date of the visit.

References in this article

19. On the candidacy bid file.

Cities bidding for American Capital of Sport and for the other awards must, as an indispensable part of their candidacy, deliver to ACES America a bid file or dossier answering the questions established in the guiding criteria for the preparation of the bid file (see Appendix VI).

References in this article

20. On the hospitality of the cities.

In order to avoid possible conflicts of interest among the members of the Evaluation Committee (see Article 12 of these Regulations), the organisation of the candidate cities' visits shall refrain from giving gifts that could compromise their objectivity and independence. Accordingly, these Regulations establish that the organising municipality may not give gifts to members of the Evaluation Committee, except for tokens regarded as institutional courtesy, which must not exceed 100 USD in value.

The hotel and meals of the Evaluation Committee shall be covered by the candidate cities. A maximum of 5 air tickets for members of the Board shall likewise be covered by the candidate capital. In the case of candidate Cities/Towns/Regions, a maximum of 3 air tickets shall be covered.

References in this article

21. Bidding for more than one award.

  1. Cities bidding for American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport that are not awarded may apply again for that same award from the year following the submission of their first candidacy.

  2. Municipalities which, owing to their demographic characteristics, may qualify for more than one award, may submit their candidacy whenever they wish, bearing in mind that candidacies may not coincide in time — that is, they must be submitted in different years.

  3. Municipalities granted the award of American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport may not submit a new candidacy to receive this distinction again within a minimum period of 10 years.

22. Payment of the fee to qualify as a candidate city.

  1. Cities wishing to bid for the American Capital of Sport award must pay a fee of 12,000 EUROS, or its equivalent in USD, to ACES America. This fee must be paid in order to formalise the candidacy before the visits begin. Said amount may be paid by the Mayor's Office or the corresponding delegation, or through sponsors or partners, who shall be entitled to the benefits set out in Article 26 of these Regulations. Candidates for American City of Sport must pay 2,500 EUR or the equivalent in USD, and candidates for American Town of Sport 1,000 EUR or the equivalent in USD. Communities shall pay 1,000 EUR, or the equivalent in USD, per municipality; those with more than 500,000 inhabitants shall pay 5,000 EUR, or the equivalent in USD. Regions shall pay as a fee 12,000 EUR, or the equivalent in USD, if they group together more than 100 municipalities, and 6,000 EUR, or the equivalent in USD, if they group together fewer than 100 municipalities.

  2. Once the candidacy submission process has begun, following the sending of the Mayor's letter to ACES America, the cities undertake to complete the process entailed in submitting the candidacy, which concludes with the visit of the Committee members and the presentation, where applicable, of the awards.

References in this article

Title V · On the award

23. Procedure for granting the award.

  1. The award of American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport shall be granted after tallying the scores assigned by the members of the Evaluation Committee to each of the eligibility criteria following the voting process carried out during the visit. Article 5 of these Regulations refers to the voting procedure, available in Appendix II.

  2. Should a difference equal to or lower than two and a half points, 2.5 (out of 100), be recorded during the evaluation of the candidacy after the vote carried out by the Committee members, and provided the remaining conditions are met, the city with the lower score may directly obtain the American Capital of Sport award for the following year, provided there is unanimity among the Committee members, with the subsequent approval of the Board and acceptance by the city concerned.

References in this article

24. Official appointment of the awarded cities.

  1. The official appointment of the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport shall take place at the annual gala held each year at the institutional venue designated annually by ACES.

  2. For organisational purposes, the cities bidding for the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport award must be duly informed by ACES America, at least two weeks before the date of the official awards gala at the UNESCO headquarters / European Parliament or designated venue, of the outcome of the evaluation process by the respective Evaluation Committees.

25. Competing municipalities not awarded. Course of action.

Candidate cities that do not receive the American Capital of Sport award shall be duly informed of the reasons why they have not been awarded. ACES America shall provide the municipalities that are not awarded with a document informing them OF THE STRENGTHS IDENTIFIED AND THE POINTS FOR REFLECTION FOR IMPROVING SPORT MANAGEMENT. The document shall be sent at the time they are notified that they have not received the award — that is, at least two weeks before the official awards gala.

26. Obligations of the American Capitals / Regions / Cities / Towns of Sport towards ACES America.

  1. Cities distinguished as American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport must assume the responsibility entailed by the recognition. The awarded municipalities undertake to fulfil the programme presented during the defence of the candidacy through the implementation of the actions and activities set out, including, as a minimum, the commitment to hold an international congress or competition and to promote sport among all levels of society, in order to give effective expression to the various dimensions of sports policy, as an element of well-being and as a tool for social transformation through public policies, highlighting aspects such as integration, equity, equality and social cohesion, as well as private-sector collaboration, working so that sport also becomes a driver of economic development and job creation in cities.

  2. Obtaining the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport award also entails the obligation to prepare an activity report at the end of the award year. Said report must contain the activities, sporting events, the legacy left as a result of the award, and the main changes that have taken place in the municipality after its year as American Capital of Sport.

  3. Awarded municipalities shall have the option — not the obligation — of proposing a candidate municipality for the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport awards for the next available year. The proposed municipality must be from a different country and meet the minimum requirements.

  4. Candidate municipalities, once declared winners of the title, undertake, should they receive the award, to sign a sponsorship agreement with ACES for the image rights of the award. Through said agreement, an amount payable to ACES shall be determined according to the size of the municipality, such amount coming exclusively from sponsors and partners and never from the municipal treasury. These sponsors/partners shall place their logo beneath the CAPITAL / CITY / TOWN / REGION brand in all communications. Each municipality shall decide what benefits and/or considerations it offers to the various sponsors, such as advertising spaces in sports centres, advertising media in the city, digital media, communications of various kinds, etc. All advertising campaigns must be linked to, or make reference to, the award granted. The amounts indicated must be paid before 31 December of the year prior to the development of the candidacy.

Sponsor amounts (image rights):

SizeImage rights
CAPITAL-ISLAND +500k inh.€38,000
250,000+ inh.€15,000
100,000+ inh.€10,000
50,000-99,999 inh.€7,000
25,000-49,999 inh.€5,000
20,000-24,999 inh.€3,000
19,999- inh.€1,500
Region 100+ municipalities€38,000
Region -100 municipalities€19,000

Likewise, ACES America shall proceed, if the awarded city or municipality deems it appropriate, to communicate the award through partners/sponsors in advertising spaces provided by the municipality, which shall be determined in the contract also on the basis of the category of the award obtained, without prejudice to the promotional actions that ACES will carry out across the entire ACES network of cities, its Internet portal, social media, international meetings, etc.

Through this agreement, the promotion of local sponsors is guaranteed, their internationalisation is fostered, and viability is given to the Activity Plan of ACES Europe and ACES America on the basis of the Good Governance project developed during 2014 at the request of the European Union under agreement number EAC-2013-0379.

For the development of the exploitation, the awarded entities may provide appropriate spaces for advertising the events at different venues, which can contribute to the exploitation of the brand image as American Capital of Sport or other awards.

However, should the entity receiving the title opt to pay with its own resources, it may do so without the need to sign the sponsorship agreement, with the model for paying said image rights being left to its own discretion, whether through public funds or through private contributions.

  1. Establishment of an ACES America delegation. The American Capital of Sport may establish an ACES America delegation in its city. It shall consist of the appointment of a delegate, whose mission shall be to promote candidacies for the ACES America awards over the following four years, automatically renewable, as well as to form part of the Evaluation Committees whenever circumstances allow. And the Mayor of the Capital shall automatically become Honorary President of ACES America for one year, should they deem it appropriate.

  2. The awarded municipalities, in accordance with the commitments made with each of their individual sponsors, also undertake to acknowledge the sponsors of ACES America, giving them visibility on their communication channels and inserting their logos and graphic designs in all materials developed in connection with the candidacy and the award.

27. Procedure in the event of non-compliance with the Regulations.

  1. In the event of detecting non-compliance with the rules included in these Regulations by a city distinguished with the American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport award, the award shall be withdrawn, together with any mention of it in the official documentation and information of ACES America.

  2. The awarded entity in breach shall pay a penalty of €40,000 in the case of Capital; €20,000 in the case of Community-Island and City; and €10,000 in the case of Town and Region (State/Province), amounts tax free, in accordance with the table in Appendix VIII.

  3. Cities unable to attend the Awards Ceremony must submit a justified cause in writing and will require the approval of the Arbitration Committee. Otherwise, absence from the Ceremony shall be tantamount to renouncing the award, with the corresponding financial penalty.

28. Staying connected.

In order to have a more active network with former awarded cities, as an option, there is the possibility of staying connected and forming part of the network with the new members through:

1.- Receiving the latest updates: congresses, activities, competitions, calls for grant proposals.

2.- The right to continue using the label for the following years.

Annual fee:

  • Towns: €500
  • Cities and Communities/Islands/Regions: €1,000
  • Capitals: €2,000

*These Regulations are a translation, with terminological adaptations, of the official regulations available at https://aceseurope.eu

Appendix I · Requirements for candidate cities during the Evaluation Committee visit

The visit of the Evaluation Committee to the municipalities bidding for American Capital/Region/City/Town of Sport is the means through which the Committee members can gain detailed knowledge of a municipality's political and sporting project. It is therefore a key aspect for a candidacy to be able to design a visit that helps the Committee members obtain an overall view of it.

This Appendix provides guidance for candidate municipalities on what the visit should contain.

Duration of the visit: The visit to cities bidding for American Capital of Sport shall last a maximum of four days.

Contents of the visit: The visit to candidate cities must include at least the following aspects:

  • Visit to sports facilities. These visits are recommended so that the Committee members can gain more detailed knowledge of the municipality's sporting landscape. For each of the facilities visited, it is recommended that the organisation provide the members of the Evaluation Committee with a fact sheet offering details about the facility: physical characteristics, number of people practising sport per year, public-transport access, organisation of local, national or international sporting events, or other relevant information about it. Facility visits shall be agreed jointly between the Board of Directors of ACES America and the candidate city. ACES America shall designate three facilities to visit, while the remaining visits shall be decided by the organising city.
  • Press conference. In order to give visibility to the project, the visit must include a press conference, at which the candidacy and its associated project are presented to the media.
  • Defence of the candidacy (DOC). Part of the visit intended for those responsible for the candidacy to present to the Committee members the most notable aspects of the candidacy, such as the main sports facilities, partnerships with sporting entities, or the political programme from a sporting standpoint for the coming years. During the DOC, a presentation of the previously prepared bid file shall be given, seeking to provide specific answers to each of the eligibility criteria. It shall have an estimated duration of up to two hours, with sufficient time allowed for the Committee members to ask any questions they deem necessary. It is recommended that the DOC contain abundant graphic information, such as videos and presentations, highlighting the city's attributes from a sporting point of view.
  • Official dinner. Official reception with the social, political and sporting representatives of the city bidding for American Capital of Sport, this not being an obligation on the part of the candidate city or municipality.
  • Space and time available to conduct the vote. At the end of the events included in the visit, the candidate municipality shall provide time and space so that the Committee can carry out the corresponding deliberations and proceed to vote on the candidate city on the basis of the twelve eligibility criteria. The estimated duration of the voting process is a maximum of 1.5 hours. It must take place after the facility visits and after the DOC, so that the Committee members have the necessary judgement to be able to vote.

Appendix II · Voting process

The vote is the point at which the candidacy of a municipality aspiring to obtain the award of American Capital/Community/City/Town of Sport culminates. This procedure is intended to be endowed with the greatest possible degree of objectivity, so that the Committee members can carry it out freely in accordance with their professional judgement.

The vote is secret; no Committee member may know the evaluation made by another member, with the exception of the General Secretariat of ACES, which shall be responsible for tallying the scores. Under no circumstances may any recording of the voting process be made.

The complete voting procedure shall unfold as follows:

  • Deliberations: The Committee members shall hold a discussion, prior to the vote, in which the strengths and weaknesses of the candidacy under evaluation are brought to light. In the case of the vote on the second candidate municipality bidding for the award for the same year, the Committee members present at both visits shall seek to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of one candidacy compared with the other.
  • Voting: Each Committee member shall have the necessary time to vote on the basis of the twelve eligibility criteria. At this point there must be no interaction of any kind between the Committee members. As the votes are completed, the Secretary General of ACES, or the person to whom they delegate, shall collect the documents in which the Committee members have cast their votes and take custody of them.
  • Deliberations after the vote: The voting procedure shall conclude with a joint reflection process, in which each member shall seek to justify which aspects of the candidacy they regarded as of greater or lesser importance in determining their vote, and what was more or less decisive in their decision-making.

The tallying of the scores shall be carried out by the Secretary General of ACES, or the person to whom they delegate, who shall keep a computerised record of the Committee members and of each of their scores. The final score shall be the weighted average of the marks assigned by the Committee members, excluding from that calculation the highest and the lowest score. Only candidacies whose average mark exceeds 8 out of 10 may obtain the award, this score being regarded as the minimum guaranteeing the quality of candidacies for American Capital of Sport.

Specific requirements for Communities/Cities/Towns concerning Appendix II

  • In the case of Community-Islands-Regions and Cities, the minimum score shall be 7.5.
  • In the case of Towns, the minimum score shall be 7.

Appendix V · List of American countries eligible to bid for each of the awards

#CountryPopulation (approx.)
1United States329,071,000
2Brazil210,461,000
3Mexico125,357,000
4Colombia49,737,000
5Argentina44,723,000
6Canada37,346,000
7Peru32,362,000
8Venezuela32,030,000
9Chile18,880,000
10Guatemala17,545,000
11Ecuador17,170,000
12Bolivia11,390,000
13Haiti11,220,000
14Cuba11,212,000
15Dominican Republic10,315,000
16Honduras9,087,000
17Paraguay7,104,000
18El Salvador6,675,000
19Nicaragua6,494,000
20Costa Rica5,032,000
21Panama4,190,000
22Uruguay3,512,000
23Jamaica2,729,000
24Trinidad and Tobago1,361,000
25Guyana783,000
26Suriname571,000
27Belize403,000
28Bahamas383,000
29Barbados287,000
30Saint Lucia180,000
31Saint Vincent and the Grenadines110,000
32Grenada108,000
33Antigua and Barbuda104,000
34Dominica74,000
35Saint Kitts and Nevis56,000

Appendix VI · Guidance for the preparation of the bid file

ACES has established the following eligibility criteria in order to gain in-depth knowledge of how candidate cities promote among the population, through sport, the values of ACES: enjoyment of exercise, the will to achieve, a sense of community, learning fair play and improving health, integration and social cohesion, equity and equality.

The cities' organisation must prepare a candidacy file to submit their bid, providing information to answer each of the points detailed below in the eligibility criteria. The Evaluation Committee will use the same criteria to assess the candidacy during the visit.

General information on the city/locality: a) Name of the city. b) Population. c) Which department of your city is responsible for sport? d) Contact person.

1. Sports infrastructure – Sports facilities (Indoor/Outdoor) a) Provide a detailed list of sports infrastructure facilities according to their type, purpose and condition. b) Provide a breakdown of municipal expenditure on the maintenance of sports facilities over the last three years. c) Provide the estimated amount of planned investment in sports infrastructure over the next three years. d) Is there a sports development plan in your city/town? What are its main objectives? e) Detail the annual budget of the Sports department and the percentage this amount represents of the institution's total budget.

2. Access to sports facilities and activities a) Explain how the sports associations or clubs in your locality operate, the agreements and grants, and the possibilities for their use by non-members. b) Explain the accessibility of sports facilities to the general public: existence of agreements, sportcard for access at reduced rates, public transport to sports facilities, etc.

3. Clubs and associations and participation of resident sports clubs or sports organisations in the league a) Provide a detailed list of sports associations and clubs competing in the top national divisions, championships and tournaments (for example: A, A1, A2, B). b) Provide detailed information on sports volunteers in the city: how they are organised, how they operate, how they recruit new volunteers, and the benefits of being a volunteer.

4. Sporting initiatives, events or projects carried out or promoted directly by the institution a) Provide a list of public sporting events organised by the institution. b) List the organisation of agreements, congresses, seminars or other events in the field of sport, in collaboration with entities of importance in sporting matters, on the most relevant topics related to sports management and anti-doping actions. c) Provide a list of international, national and local sporting events that have taken place in the City or its surroundings over the last three years. d) Analyse and explain the return on investment from the use of the city's facilities (collections, sale of advertising space, other income, etc.).

5. Measures to promote health and integration through sport across all social classes a) Are there special health-care programmes related to sport for all? b) Are there special opportunities for different age groups to practise sport? Who offers these opportunities? c) Are there sports courses for people with a particular social background or disability? d) Are there initiatives to promote integration through sport? e) Are there educational opportunities for the training of coaches and instructors? f) How does the city promote Fair Play?

6. Sports participation rate of the population a) Total number of card-carrying members of the Sports Federation associations and clubs, if possible classified by age groups: youth 4 to 16; senior 17-34; Masters (35-…). b) How many people in your city/town actively participate in sport? Please explain the methodology used to obtain the data provided. c) Explain the additional measures proposed by the municipality to increase sport among all segments of the population. Provide approximate figures for the data expected to be achieved during the period leading up to the candidacy and during the candidacy. d) How does your city/town support voluntary participation in sport?

7. Increasing environmental sustainability a) What measures is the municipality taking to save energy and increase the use of renewable energy? b) Describe the policy measures adopted by the municipality that encourage and facilitate the reduction of waste production and the increase of selective waste collection. c) What information and awareness activities exist for citizens on sustainable environmental issues?

8. Promotion of sports tourism a) What actions has the municipality taken to promote the city/town and spread the knowledge, image and practice of sports tourism? b) Describe the meeting activities between sports associations and economic operators in the tourism and sport sectors. c) What policy measures exist with the aim of facilitating the implementation of sports-tourism projects and events in the territory of the city/town?

9. Communication project to promote the bid a) Explain the communication plan to promote the municipality's candidacy. b) Explain the promotion of the bid and the ACES award (Internet presence, social-media manager, logo, video, etc.).

10. Relations between the institution and other sporting or political institutions at local, regional and national level a) Detail the agreements and relations between the City Council and local, regional and national sports organisations. b) Explain how the candidacy promotes agreements with local, regional or national sports federations or other entities for the promotion of sport. c) Quantify and detail investment in the local sport-related economy. Provide details of the events and activities in this field carried out in partnership and cooperation with sports organisations and institutions at national and continental level. d) Specify which new agreements with relevant institutions are expected to be signed should the award be won.

11. Profile and possible activities as American Capital of Sport a) Explain the role of sport in your city/town in achieving the five main objectives of the ACES Manifesto (enjoyment of exercise, the will to achieve, a sense of community, learning fair play, improving health). b) How does your city/town see its social advantages as American Capital of Sport? c) What initiatives and activities would your city wish to contribute to the work of ACES? Provide a list of City Campaigns in connection with the candidacy.

12. Calendar of sporting events/activities planned for the year of the bid a) Provide a list of events (including conventions, seminars, congresses, etc.) and measures in connection with the candidacy and the City holding the title of "American Capital, Community-Island, City or Town of Sport".

Appendix VII · Eligibility criteria

City profile

1. Sports infrastructure – Sports facilities (Indoor/Outdoor) a) List of sports infrastructure facilities according to type, purpose and condition, both present and future. b) Amount of municipal expenditure on the maintenance of sports facilities over the last three years. c) Estimated investment over the next three years in sports facilities. d) Sports development plans in the city/town. e) Annual budget allocated to sporting activities compared with the Municipality's total estimate.

2. Access to sports facilities and activities a) Operation of sports associations or sports clubs, agreements and grants, and possibilities for their use by non-members. b) Accessibility of facilities to the population: existence of agreements, Sportcard for reduced-price entry, public transport to sports facilities, etc.

3. Clubs and associations and participation of resident sports clubs or sports organisations in the league a) Relevance and number of sports associations and clubs competing in the top national divisions, championships and tournaments (for example: A, A1, A2, B). b) Importance of sports volunteering, in terms of organisation, procedures and recruitment of new candidates.

Fulfilment of ACES objectives

4. Sporting initiatives, events or projects carried out or promoted directly by the City Council a) Number and relevance of sporting events organised by the City. b) Number and relevance of agreements, congresses, seminars or other events organised in the field of sport, in collaboration with entities of importance in sporting matters, on the most relevant topics related to sports management and anti-doping actions. c) Number and relevance of international, national and local sporting events that have taken place in the City or its surroundings over the last three years. d) Balance of the return on investment from the use of the city's facilities (collections, sale of advertising space, other income, etc.).

5. Measures to promote health and integration through sport across all social classes a) Adequacy of sport-related health-care programmes. b) Adequacy of opportunities for different age groups to practise sport. c) Adequacy of sports courses for people with a particular social background or disability. d) Adequacy of initiatives to promote integration through sport. e) Adequacy of educational opportunities for the training of coaches and instructors. f) Adequacy of the measures implemented to promote fair play.

6. Sports participation rate of the population a) Relevance of the number of card-carrying members of the Sports Federation associations and clubs. b) Proportion of inhabitants of the city/town actively participating in sport. c) Initiatives implemented to increase the proportion of people regularly practising sport. d) Adequacy of the city/town's measures to support voluntary participation in sport.

7. Increasing environmental sustainability a) Interventions aimed at saving energy. b) Interventions to increase the production and use of renewable energy. c) Interventions aimed at reducing waste production and increasing selective waste collection.

8. Promotion of sports tourism a) Actions to promote the city/town territory and spread the knowledge, image and practice of sports tourism. b) Meeting activities between sports associations and economic operators in the tourism and sport sectors. c) Policies aimed at facilitating the implementation of sports-tourism projects and events in the territory of the city/town.

9. Communication project to promote the bid a) Communication plan to promote the candidacy within the territory. b) Promotion of the bid and the ACES award (Internet presence is planned, a person in charge of social media has been identified, creation of a logo, a video, etc.).

10. Relations between the City Council or institution and other sporting or political institutions at local, regional and national level a) Agreements and relations between the City Council and local, regional and national sports bodies. b) Intensity of the promotion of agreements with sports federations or other entities for the promotion of sport. c) Quantity and quality of investment in the local sport-related economy. d) New agreements planned should the award be obtained.

11. Profile and possible activities as American Capital of Sport a) Measures adopted by the city/town to achieve the five main objectives of the ACES Manifesto. b) Understanding of the social advantages of the city/town as an awarded city/town. c) Adequacy of the city's initiatives and activities to contribute to the work of ACES.

12. Calendar containing the sporting events/activities planned for the year of the bid a) Relevance and certainty of execution of the list of events (including conventions, seminars, congresses, sporting events, etc.) planned for the year of the candidacy.

Appendix VIII · Differences between American Capital/Community/City/Town/Region of Sport awards

Art.SubjectCapitalCommunity/IslandCityTownState/Province
8.1Number of members of the Evaluation Committee5-9 persons3-6 persons3-6 persons3-5 persons5-7 persons
8.2Participation of Committee members in both visitsAt least 40%50%, if two municipalities compete50%, if two municipalities compete50%, if two municipalities competeAt least 40%
12.5Nationality of Committee members as a conflict of interestIn all cases, without exceptionShall not constitute a conflict of interestShall not constitute a conflict of interestShall not constitute a conflict of interestShall not constitute a conflict of interest
15Steps for submitting the candidacyDates and steps must be complied with as described in the articleDates are indicative, steps are mandatoryDates are indicative, steps are mandatoryDates are indicative, steps are mandatoryDates are indicative, steps are mandatory
16.1Requirements for submitting a candidacyBeing the capital of a countryConsisting of a minimum of three municipalities, with a combined registered population of between 25,000 and 499,999 inhabitants. Island: no limitRegistered population of between 25,000 and 499,999 inhabitantsRegistered population of between 1 and 24,999 inhabitantsNo limitation in terms of inhabitants
16.2Limitation on cities from the same country competingTwo cities from the same country may not compete for the awardTwo communities from the same country, but not from the same province, may bidTwo cities from the same country, but not from the same province, may competeTwo towns from the same country, but not from the same province, may bidA single Region per country, following the order of arrival of the Letter of intent
18.2Number of facilities visited at the request of the ACES BoardThe ACES Board will request the visit of three facilitiesThe ACES Board will request the visit of one facilityThe ACES Board will request the visit of one facilityThe ACES Board will request the visit of one facilityThe ACES Board will request the visit of one facility
22.1Participation feeThe amount shall be €12,000The amount shall be €1,000 each. More than 500k inhabitants: €5,000The amount shall be €2,500The amount shall be €1,000The amount shall be €12,000 for states with more than 100 municipalities, €6,000 for states with fewer than 100 municipalities
27.2Penalty for non-compliance with the Regulations€40,000 tax free€20,000 tax free€20,000 tax free€10,000 tax free€10,000 tax free
App. IDuration of the visit to candidate municipalities4 days, two full days to visit the municipality3 days, one full day3 days, one full day2 days, one full day4 days, two full days to visit the region
App. IDesign of the visit. Facilities at the Board's requestThree facilitiesOne facilityOne facilityOne facilityOne facility
App. IIGala dinnerShall be an essential aspect of the visitsShall not be an essential aspectShall not be an essential aspectShall not be an essential aspectShall not be an essential aspect
App. IIIMethod of counting the scoresThe highest and lowest marks are excludedAll scores shall be consideredAll scores shall be consideredAll scores shall be consideredAll scores shall be considered
App. IIIMinimum mark to obtain the awardAt least 8 out of 10At least 7.5 out of 10At least 7.5 out of 10At least 7 out of 10At least 7.5 out of 10

Appendix IX · Data protection

In compliance with the provisions of the legislation in force on the Protection of Personal Data, ACES Europe, with registered office at Rond Point Robert Schuman 6 (Box 5), 1040 Bruxelles (Belgium), telephone +322 234 7964 and email aces@aces-europa.eu, hereby informs that the following processing of personal data will be carried out in connection with the activities of ACES and these general rules:

Processing of personal data for participation in the candidacy and awards. The personal data provided in the context of participation in this selection process of THE AMERICAN / ASIAN / AFRICAN / AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL, COMMUNITY / ISLAND, CITY, TOWN AND DISTRICT OF SPORT will be processed for the sole purpose of ensuring the proper management of the selection process.

The basis for the processing of the data is the legitimate interest in maintaining relations between those involved in the AMERICAN / ASIAN / AFRICAN / AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL, COMMUNITY/ISLAND, CITY, TOWN AND REGION OF SPORT and ACES Europe in connection with the management of the candidacy and the selection process, in accordance with the conditions and general rules described in this document. The data will be kept for as long as the relationship is maintained and its deletion is not requested and, in any event, in compliance with the applicable legal and prescribed periods.

Data will not be transferred to third parties, except where ACES Europe is under a legal obligation. No international transfers of such data are envisaged.

Use of personal images in connection with public events: In connection with the activities of ACES Europe, images of those attending public events may be used and published in various media and social networks. All persons attending public events related to ACES Europe authorise ACES Europe, free of charge, to use the images (photographs and/or videos) that may be taken at public events, which may be used for dissemination through publications, websites, media, social networks, etc., with the aim of publicising the public event in question. This particular data processing shall be regarded as an international data transfer owing to the nature of the use of the Internet, websites and social networks. The images will be kept indefinitely, unless the data subject revokes their consent.

The holders of personal data may exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, portability and restriction or objection by writing to ACES Europe at aces@aces-europa.eu. In addition, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authorities if they consider that their rights have not been duly respected.

Appendix X · ACES Programme for International Promotion, Technical Consultancy and Institutional Quality

(Appendix to Article 26)

With the aim of enhancing the impact of the year of recognition, ACES will make available to the awarded entities, through ACES Events —an entity specialised in strategic consultancy and the production of sporting events—, a comprehensive programme of technical, institutional and international services of a voluntary and fee-based nature.

Adherence shall be formalised through a specific agreement between ACES and the awarded entity, with ACES Events responsible for contractual execution, with express determination of services, scope and economic conditions.

The catalogue of available events and consultancy services includes, among others:

A. Consultancy on physical activity and sport programmes. ACES will provide technical advisory services for the design, implementation and evaluation of physical activity and sport programmes, including diagnosis of the local sporting ecosystem, strategic programme design, definition of impact indicators, preparation of technical reports and alignment with international standards in health and sport.

B. Production and technical direction of sporting events. ACES Events may be engaged for the organisation and executive production of its own or collaborative events, among them: the American Week of Sport, W by ACES (women's leadership in sport), the Iberia Sport Cities Summit (Ibero-American sports congress and gala) and specialised thematic congresses. Any of these may be articulated as a main or complementary activity of the year of recognition.

C. Versatile and innovative sports infrastructure. ACES will offer access to modular and mobile sports infrastructure projects oriented towards new trends in urban fitness, allowing sporting experiences to be implemented in public spaces or unconventional settings during the year of recognition.

D. Economic conditions and forms of engagement. All services shall be fee-based, with conditions determined according to the nature of the service, the category of the award, the population of the entity and the resources committed. This programme does not constitute a bid fee or image rights, but an offer of freely and voluntarily contracted services, which may be instrumented through a service agreement, a collaboration agreement, sponsorship or any other valid legal formula agreed between the parties.

Fees, deadlines and requirements

Choose an award to see what it requires and what it costs.

CapitalRegiónCiudadMunicipioComunidad-Isla

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