Porto, Oct. 9, 2024 (Lusa) - Portugal's minister of parliamentary affairs, Pedro Duarte, on Wednesday promoted the joint candidacy of Porto and Gaia to become the World Capital of Sport in 2027 during the Council of Europe's Conference of Sports Ministers in Porto.
"Porto and Gaia are taking on a huge challenge together. With a bid already underway, these municipalities aspire to be the World Capital of Sport in 2027. We are counting on your support," said Pedro Duarte in his speech.
Speaking to the media at the end, the head of Sport said that work was being done during the conference to promote the bid, which he considered "very important for the two municipalities and the country".
Pedro Duarte said that Portugal traditionally "feels and lives sport in a very intense way", with "a lot of passion", usually "in a very healthy and constructive way".
"So if we can capitalise on this special relationship with sport to promote the country in another way, I think it's good for everyone," he concluded.
In his speech, Pedro Duarte considered that the conference of European sports ministers "is a unique opportunity to strengthen international cooperation in the area" and "to think about policies that promote greater transparency and justice in this sector".
"The conference we're hosting is a platform for the discussion of fundamental values in sport and to these very important objectives are added the fight against corruption, doping and the manipulation of results, as well as the promotion of values such as ethics and integrity," he said.
Pedro Duarte also touched on some relevant points that will be addressed at the conference, from revising the European Sports Charter to promoting joint policies for the sector, making it more integral, inclusive and accessible to all.
"We will have the opportunity [during the Conference of Sports Ministers of the Council of Europe] to reflect on the achievements and challenges that lie ahead," he stressed, recognising that "we have come a long way. However, there is still much to do."
He said, 'the Portuguese government is committed to creating mechanisms that bring more transparency and inclusion to sport and promote gender equality and equality for people with disabilities".
Among these priority measures are the revision of the Sports Framework Law, the revision of the Manager's Statute, the reform of the Sports Arbitration Tribunal Law and the revision of the Legal Framework for Sports Federations.
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