Belén raises Costa Rica’s profile at the American level on being chosen American City of Sport 2024

The canton of Belén, in Heredia, placed Costa Rica at the top at the American level after the non-profit organisation ACES Europe, a partner of UNESCO, declared it American City of Sport 2024.

Among the reasons the bodies gave for this distinction to the people of Belén was the dedication they have shown to the growth of sport among their inhabitants in recent years.

They highlighted the response of the locals in attending these activities, reaching the figure of 8,500 people during 2023. The inhabitants of Belén were pleased with the achievement at the international level.

They also noted the investment that the local government allocates each year to keep its sports infrastructure among the best in the country, reaching up to approximately $1.2 million, some 644 million colones at the exchange rate.

ACES Europe, which is responsible for granting worldwide recognitions each year to the cities that, through sport, improve people’s quality of life, presented the recognition to Belén on 7 December in Brussels, the capital of Belgium, at the seat of the European Parliament in a joint event with UNESCO.

In 2024 Sofia (Bulgaria) will be the World Capital of Sport, Genoa (Italy) the European Capital of Sport and San Juan (Argentina) the American Capital of Sport, which, together with cities, municipalities, regions and cantons from all over the world, were honoured for their determined work in favour of sport as a tool of integration and social transformation as well as economic development.