Prior to the dinner, ACES held its first international conference. The keynote speech was given by Juan Manuel Gozalo, a renowned Spanish sports journalist. Following his address, a round table on sport in Europe featuring the EPC President, distinguished experts on sport and representatives of cities that have held the title of European Capital of Sport took place.

ACES and EPC also signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the terms for future partnership between the two European organisations. The agreement includes a commitment to help EPC identify host cities for championships in Paralympic sports and provides for an EPC representative on ACES' Award Commission, the body that carries out inspections in cities bidding for the title of European Capital of Sport and European City of Sport.

The EPC President said of the agreement, "in the same way as cities bidding for the Olympic Games must include a Paralympic bid, our involvement in the award commission aims to ensure that cities bidding for the titles include citizens with disabilities in their sports projects and plans. We look forward to working with ACES and we are sure this agreement will benefit many athletes with disabilities in a host of European cities in the coming years."

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