ACES officially announced the designation of San Juan as American Capital of Sport

ACES, an international body and partner of UNESCO, the American Sports Council (CAD) and the Organization of American States (OEA), was in charge of recognising the Cuyo province.

Hopes grew ever greater for the people of San Juan at the beginning of the year, after the visit of the authorities of the Association of Capitals and Cities of Sport (ACES), based in Europe, who assess sports management before awarding this title.

It is worth recalling that the delegation of six ACES authorities arrived in the province of San Juan on Friday the 27th and stayed until 31 January, meaning that they were able to witness the massive closing of the Vuelta a San Juan, an international cycling competition and a historic and great passion of the people of San Juan. Fundamental factors for the decision taken.

The president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Chiqui Tapia, as one more native of San Juan, joined the celebration with a video message greeting the province.

Being the American Capital of Sport will boost San Juan even further internationally, which will allow the province to keep establishing itself as a sporting destination and as an epicentre of major events.

The event took place at the Vicente Alejo Chancay Velodrome, packed with spectators, and with the presence of Hugo Alonso and Gonzalo Cuesta representing ACES, Mario Moccia of the Argentine Olympic Committee, Fernando Miori and Hugo Mazzacane of the ACTC, Daniel Ventura of the CAP, Gabriel Curuchet of UCRA, Marcelo Lanzi of FACPyR, Juan Sardo of the Volleyball Federation, Alejandro Levy of TC 2000, and other presidents of Federations, clubs, athletes, journalists and the whole family of sport.

In his speech, Hugo Alonso, Secretary General of ACES, highlighted the province’s work in the field of sport. “I still remember when, more than a year ago, they told us about San Juan; I felt that passion I felt as a child, the tingle. I could not believe what they were telling me; it was a province that in recent years had invested a great deal, and well, in sport. Sports infrastructure like the one we are inaugurating today, unique for the country and the continent. The top-level national and international events it had hosted. The San Juan Sporting Revolution was the perfect candidate for our title of highest rank and importance”, said Alonso.

He also added that, when he visited the province to assess it, he realised it was the perfect candidate to be the American Capital of Sport: “The most important thing in sport is inner strength and passion beyond any obstacle. San Juan, more than 1,200 km from the capital of Argentina, where dreams are sometimes difficult to fulfil, where obstacles can become larger than usual, has become steeped in spirit, strength and passion, which it has managed to transmit to its citizens and inspire them. For all these reasons I declare today, here, officially, the province of San Juan American Capital of Sport”