Madrid

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is the World Capital of Sport 2022, a title that crowns a long journey: it was the very first European Capital of Sport in the award's history, in 2001, and two decades later became the first European city to reach the world distinction, after Guadalajara and Abu Dhabi. It received the world plaque at the Vallehermoso Stadium in February 2022. The city backs the title with top-tier sports infrastructure and a packed international calendar — from the European Badminton Championships to athletics, tennis, golf and cycling events — but its message centres on people: sport for all ages, a push for women's and grassroots sport, adapted practice for people with disabilities, annual grants to clubs and associations, and an extensive public-private partnership programme. Its underlying motto, repeated by the sports department, is that the ultimate goal of all that activity is the health and well-being of the population.