The Marbella City Council will commence the application process on 26 October for clubs, brotherhoods, companies, associations, and federations seeking municipal collaboration for organising sports events throughout 2027. This application window will remain open until 30 November, enabling the council to develop a comprehensive plan for the scheduled events, assess their feasibility, and determine which will receive local government support.
Lisandro Vieytes, the councillor responsible for sports, highlighted that Marbella is set to conclude the current year with the hosting of 140 sports events, 12 of which will be international. He emphasised the importance of careful planning to avoid scheduling conflicts with other significant events in the city and to coordinate the necessary human and material resources for their execution.
Vieytes explained that the aim of this call for applications is to establish a programme that allows for the organisation of municipal resources and facilitates collaboration among various departments involved, such as Sports, Traffic, Local Police, and Operational Services. This will take into account factors such as potential traffic disruptions, personnel availability, public holidays, and overlaps with major celebrations, including the Marbella and San Pedro Alcántara fairs, Christmas lighting, and the Three Kings Parade.
The councillor encouraged local clubs to submit their proposals within the established timeframe and stressed that applications must be formalised correctly. He also clarified that submitting an application does not guarantee automatic acceptance; each initiative will undergo technical evaluation before the council officially communicates its approval and potential collaboration avenues.
The guidelines for the application process will be available on the council's electronic headquarters, where a specific section titled 'Request for collaboration for sports events in 2027' will be created. Entities must submit their requests through the official registry and provide all necessary information for the Sports Department to assess the characteristics and requirements of each activity.
Criteria for evaluation will include the official status of the event and its affiliation with relevant federations, the event's history, anticipated participant and attendee numbers, economic impact on the city, and potential traffic implications. A technical committee will be responsible for assessing the viability of the proposals, considering the municipal capacity to support and organise the various events.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Marbella's position as a sports destination and promote the hosting of competitions and activities year-round, contributing to a reduction in seasonal tourism fluctuations. Vieytes noted that some events already have confirmed dates, such as the World Triathlon Championship scheduled for September, as well as events where the council is the main sponsor, including the Rhythmic Gymnastics Grand Prix and the Reserve Cup of Padel.
The programme will also feature established competitions that help maintain sports activity during the quieter tourist months, such as the Absolute Chess Championship, which takes place in December. The councillor reiterated the goal of continuing to promote events that establish Marbella as a leading city for hosting sports competitions throughout the year, while emphasising the importance of interested entities submitting their projects in sufficient detail and within the designated period to ensure effective and coordinated planning.
Alejandro Núñez, head of the Events Department, stressed the importance of presenting complete and detailed projects to facilitate their evaluation. He added that it is crucial for entities to provide comprehensive information regarding the event, including dates, venues, participation scope, categories, applicable regulations, and any circumstances that may affect traffic. After the application deadline on 30 November, the Sports Department will have another 30 days to communicate its assessment to the applicants. Subsequently, contact will be established with each entity to finalise the necessary documentation and advance preparations for the planned events in the upcoming year.
