Nitra to become 2018 European City of Sports

Nitra will become the European City of Sports in 2018, the European Capitals and Cities of Sport Federation (ACES Europe) has decided, TASR learnt on Tuesday. A commission from ACES Europe took tours last month of the ice-hockey arena and the football stadium in Nitra - both venues of the respective premier league competitions. Members of the commission also inspected reconstruction plans - both finished and being prepared - at individual sport areas and also learnt about the success of the most popular sports in Nitra, said mayor Jozef Dvonč. A native of Nitra, Matej Tóth became the 50-kilometre race walk Olympic champion last year, a few months after HK Nitra became champions of the ice-hockey premier league. HK Nitra took the premier-league silver in 2017. "Members of the commission saw running tracks, a climbing wall, cycling courses and other sporting facilities at the Sihoť City Park. They were also intrigued about the bike sharing project, which has been received with huge interest by people in the city," stated the city authority. Nitra will assume the 2018 European City of Sports title in Brussels on December 6.