ACES of Europe President Gian Francesco Lupattelli handed over the title of European Capital of Sport 2025 to Tallinn Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart in Brussels last night.
Tallinn has launched four different calls for applications to support music and culture projects in 2023, aimed at enriching Tallinn's cultural calendar, improving access to culture and ensuring the continuity of cultural events.
Next year's draft city budget foresees a total of €50.1 million for operating expenditure and investments in the area of environment and environmental protection. In addition to the activities related to the European Green Capital, for example, the improvement of parks and green spaces will continue as an important part of creating a high quality urban space.
In March this year, Tallinn launched the Museum Sundays initiative at city-owned museums to raise awareness of museum activities and improve access to culture. During 2022, the initiative has attracted a large number of visitors, with 14 museums and exhibition halls now participating.
In the draft 2023 city budget, the largest share of the total investment is in the reconstruction and overhaul of roads and streets, with €78.1 million planned. Emphasis is placed on the reconstruction of major transport nodes and the overhaul and rehabilitation of streets, bridges and viaducts.
In the vote on Tallinn's 2023 inclusive budget, projects that promote healthy and mobile lifestyles in an urban space close to nature and bring additional amenities to recreational areas were successful.
Tallinn City Government and the Tallinn Urban Planning Department have put out for public consultation four preliminary plans for the Old Harbour area, which are open for comments until 12 January. There will also be an outdoor public exhibition next to the Admiralty Bridge, showing the nature of the plans and the proposed buildings.
From 2023, the limit for covering the cost of food in kindergartens in Tallinn will increase by 50% and the cost of school meals for pupils will rise from €1.56 to €1.80 a day. School meals will continue to be free of charge for both primary and secondary school pupils in Tallinn.
In autumn 2022, a support measure for conference tourism was created to attract more conference tourists to Tallinn. The maximum amount of support is planned to be up to €30 000 per conference. Tallinn will start supporting international conferences in the city next year. The first call for applications has already been launched and is open until 25 January.
In 2022, Tallinn hosted nearly 90 high-level international competitions, including 21 World and European Championships and World and European Cups. This year's international sporting events were supported by the capital with a total of more than €865 000.