Sport as a tool for economic, social and tourism growth in Europe’s small states. This was the central theme of the international roundtable held on Friday, September 11, at the Grand Hotel in San Marino, as part of the initiatives for San Marino European Community of Sport 2026.
Institutional and sporting representatives from various European countries took part in the discussion. Topics addressed included sports diplomacy, youth policies, inclusion, welfare, and the ability of major events to generate economic and tourism benefits for local areas.
Among those speaking were Secretaries of State Luca Beccari, Andrea Belluzzi and Teodoro Lonfernini, senior officials from ACES Europe and ACES Italy, representatives from Monaco, Luxembourg and Albania, and MEP Andrey Kovatchev.
The event also focused on the San Marino and Romagna sporting and motorsport sectors, with contributions from CONS president Christian Forcellini, Misano World Circuit managing director Andrea Albani, and Rallylegend organizer Paolo Valli. Discussions centered on the impact of major events in drawing audiences, supporting tourism, and giving the territory international visibility.
The proceedings were closed by the Secretary of State for Sport, Rossano Fabbri, who argued that for small states, limited size can become “a genuine competitive advantage for building agile and innovative models of cooperation.”
The delegations were also received at Palazzo Valloni by the Captains Regent. The program concluded with a gala dinner at the Kursaal dedicated to the theme “Motorcycling in Italy and Sport: innovation, growth and promotion between San Marino and Italy,” organized by the Italian Embassy in San Marino.
