The confirmation of Loulé as European City of Sport 2015 can help in the negotiation to keep Rally de Portugal in the South.
"If there were no arguments, this would be one more, supplementary, absolutely convincing characteristics of Loulé, the climate, the passion and affection, in general, that the Algarvians, in particular the Louléans, have for sport", considers the mayor of Loulé Vitor Aleixo.
The Automóvel Clube de Portugal (ACP), organizer of the main international motorsport race held in Portugal, has not yet announced where the Rally de Portugal will be held in 2015. The race has been held in the Algarve and Baixo Alentejo, since it returned to the big stages international competitions in 2007, but that could change at any time, according to the competition's organizers.
Vítor Aleixo is confident that the Algarve Stadium, that the municipalities of Loulé and Faro managing in partnership, will continue to be the basis of this competition for years to come. "I left a very clear message to ACP president Carlos Barbosa that we had all the interest, openness and availability for the competition to continue in the Algarve, for reasons that are fully identified", said the mayor on Saturday, during the ceremony that confirmed Loulé such as the only Portuguese European City of Sport in 2015.
The way the competitions have been taking place in the South for many years, as well as the support that has been given by the many partners, receive recurring praise from the organization.
Also on an economic level, things have been going well, as a study by the University of Algarve points to the creation of increasing capital gains, which have reached the 54 million euros in direct return in 2013.
But, from the ACP side, a message has arrived that "greater involvement" is needed from the regions that have hosted the competition, namely in terms of the enthusiasm created by the population and the living forces around the Rally de Portugal. On the table will be a return to the North of Portugal.
«Algarve and Baixo Alentejo are a perfect solution in many respects, but it is necessary to have others, in order to always find the ideal solution at all times. In that respect, things are open", he considered, in April, the race director Pedro Almeida. The same person in charge stated at the time, as he had already done about a year before, that «the rally is from Portugal «and not from the Algarve», or from any other region in the country.
Statements that do not dampen hope from Vítor Aleixo, who expects a decision from the ACP “soon”. "We have continued to insist and I have the positive expectation that the ACP will decide well", that is, for the continuity of the rally in the South.
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