Venue
Discover more about the European Sport Congress
accommodation, transportation, and social programme
The first edition of the European Sport Congress will be held in Gijón, Spain, in the region of Asturias. On this page, you will find information about the European Sport Congress transportation and accommodation.
Gijón
The principality of Asturias is an autonomous region of Spain caught between the mountains and the Cantabric Sea.
Known for its beautiful landscapes, Asturias is considered one of Spain’s best-kept secrets for its natural beauty combined with a feverish lifestyle and friendly population.
Gijón is the most populated city in Asturias, with nearly 274.000 inhabitants, and one of the most important seaports in Spain. A growing city characterized by its charismatic inhabitants and hectic lifestyle, it holds the title of Capital of the “Costa Verde” (Green Coast) for the privileged location between the sea and the natural surroundings.
Besides the natural landscapes, Gijón is also known for its beaches – both urban and the hidden gems that can be found along its coast – and the many leisure spots and parks.
Another great asset of Gijón is the local gastronomy with treats like “Cachopo” and “Fabada”, and, of course, the famous sider.
The municipality of Gijon offers a wide range of opportunities for sport lovers, with facilities and activities for land, aquatic and wind sports. With over 20 public facilities covering from swimming pools to golf parks, there are options for every athlete (snow sports are especially popular in Asturias due to the many high mountains surrounding it).
But what makes Gijón so special, truly is the spirit of the population. Gijoneses’ passionate way of living life is visible in every corner of the city. Sometimes, it is almost like the city revolves around its citizens and not the other way around. There’s even a treatise describing the locals’ habits. It is called “Gijonomía”.
Gijón is involved in the European Digital Agenda, promoting the digitalization of public services through the Smart City Strategy, with renowned projects such as the Gijón Citizen Card.
La laboral
La Laboral City of Culture is a project by the Principality of Asturias to provide an open and plural city, with spaces dedicated to education, culture and innovation.
With 130,000 built square metres, it holds the Faculty of Commerce, Tourism and Social Sciences of the University of Oviedo, the broadcasting corporation of the Principality, the College of Dramatic Arts, a church, a library, gardens, offices of the municipality and many other services.
The venue of the EUSC is the theatre of La Laboral which holds over 1.000 people. It was first conceived as a lecture hall for students and teachers and it is now one of the best spaces in the north of Spain with regard to space, capacity and technology.
In this building one can find, besides the theatre hall, the picturesque room, rehearsal rooms, meeting rooms, conference rooms and auxiliary spaces, making it an ideal place to hold the European Sport Congress as participants can have access to different spaces that convey their needs throughout the event.
La Laboral is part of the Knowledge Mile, an initiative that hosts the key agents of the city’s innovation system in a space of approximately one mile where technology and science coexist with art and culture.
Transportation
Getting to Gijón
Asturias is easily accessible by plane with up to eight flights a day from Madrid or Barcelona to Asturias Airport (OVD). There are several airlines that fly directly to Asturias, from which we highlight Volotea, Vueling, Ryanair, Iberia, Lufthansa and Binter Canarias.
Once you arrive you can choose between an Alsa bus or a taxi from the airport to go to Gijón. The Alsa buses depart every hour, with tickets at 9 € and it takes 45 minutes to get to Gijón. The taxi trip costs around 48€ and is a 30-minute journey.
Near Asturias, there are also Bilbao, Santander and Coruña airports, with buses connecting directly to Gijón. We recommend flying to Santander, as it is two hours away, while Bilbao and Coruña are around four hours.
Moving in Gijón
Gijón has a great public transportation system, with buses every 10 and 15 minutes connecting the different parts of the city. The lines to get to La Laboral are 1, 2, 10, 15 and 18. Each individual ticket costs 1.50€. The city is not served by companies like Uber or Cabify, but there are many taxi companies available. Alsa buses connect Gijón to almost every town in Asturias and many cities in Spain.
The EUSC will provide daily transportation from NH Hotel (near San Lorenzo beach) to La Laboral and back.
Accommodation
As a tourism-friendly city, Gijón has many different options for accommodation. We have selected a list of hotels for you. Have a look at the events’ map to prepare your trip and check distances. Transportation from San Lorenzo beach to La Laboral and back is provided by the organisation.
Social
The European Sport Congress is a unique opportunity to meet new people, strengthen relationships, connect with individuals with similar interests and ambitions, and exchange ideas. There are several moments to mingle at the congress, but we highlight two events organized especially for participants to have the chance to socialize:
"Espicha" dinner experience
On the night of the 20th of September, attendees get the chance to experiment with an “Espicha”, a typical gathering in Asturias to drink local cider while standing up, chatting and tasting traditional dishes.
This event is taking place at Tierra Astur, a well-known cider house with regional cuisine and a feverish environment, aimed at providing the emblematic spirit of Asturias to its clients.
Gala dinner
A gala dinner will take place at the NH Hotel, on the 21st of September at 20:30, starting with a welcome cocktail on the rooftop of the hotel.
The dress code is business casual. The weather in Gijón, in September, is usually warm with temperatures around 20°C.