Tallinn is redefining what it means to be a city of sport. With a clear vision, bold investments and a renewed focus on its citizens, the Estonian capital is transforming from a city that supports sports to one that lives and breathes them. Behind this transformation stands a strategy built on inclusion, participation and the belief that active citizens create a stronger, more connected city.
In 2024, Tallinn allocated a record € 25 million to sport, a remarkable figure for a city of just 450.000 residents. Ten million euros of that sum will go directly to sports facilities, while € 8.5 million comes through municipal support and another € 6 million through local revenue. The city even introduced a new summer funding round worth € 1.7 million to inspire young people to move more. This isn’t just a line in the budget; it’s a long-term commitment to embed vitality in everyday life.
The heart of this effort lies in youth sports. Today, 23.000 young people in Tallinn regularly participate in organized sports. The city’s goal is to raise that number to at least 36.000. A 50% increase that would mark a generational shift in physical activity and community engagement. Popular disciplines like football, basketball, swimming and athletics are thriving, but what truly sets Tallinn apart is how it integrates sports into the broader fabric of life.
One of the most innovative approaches is Tallinn’s collaboration with schools. Instead of relying solely on traditional physical education, the city pays local clubs to provide one or two extra sports lessons per week. This initiative not only gives children exposure to a wider range of activities but also helps identify young talent early on. It’s a win-win: clubs strengthen their community ties, schools enrich their curriculum and students discover the joy of movement beyond competition.
Yet Tallinn’s strategy isn’t only about the young. Senior citizens benefit from free access to municipal exercise programs, from swimming to gym sessions, promoting long-term health and social inclusion. These initiatives are designed to be accessible but structured, ensuring that every generation has a place to move, meet and thrive.
Behind these visible programs lies a deeper structural reform that has reshaped how Tallinn manages its sports landscape. In 2023, the city consolidated seven separate organizations responsible for 25 municipal sports facilities into one unified entity. This merger, the largest of its kind in Estonia, eliminated inefficiencies and internal competition, replacing fragmentation with focus. The result is a city-wide system that operates under a single vision: to make sports a natural, accessible part of daily urban life.
Tallinn’s shift from elite to community sport marks a philosophical turning point. Rather than investing primarily in professional athletes or high-performance programs, the city now channels resources into participation and health. The reasoning is simple but powerful: elite sports may inspire, but grassroots participation transforms lives. Still, this transition isn’t without challenges. Balancing budgets, maintaining facilities and navigating political cycles demand patience and perseverance. As Ivar Jurtšenko and his colleague Kaarel Oja emphasize, reform takes time, the foundation has been laid.
The scale of Tallinn’s infrastructure reflects the ambition behind the plan. Across eight districts, the city operates sports halls, pools, stadiums and ice rinks, with key facilities in areas like Vasnama and Puya. Renovations such as the newly upgraded Athletics Hall underline a commitment to both quality and accessibility. At the same time, the city recognizes its limitations. With current arenas capped at 7.500 seats privately and 5.500 municipally, Tallinn must expand its capacity to co-host EuroBasket 2029, a symbolic opportunity to showcase the city’s growth on the European stage.
“...to make sports a natural, accessible part of daily urban life.”
Despite the infrastructure ambitions, Tallinn’s greatest challenge remains human, not structural. Around 45% of residents meet the World Health Organization’s physical activity guidelines, while roughly half of children are regularly active, but few meet the recommended levels. The steep drop in participation between ages ten and twelve mirrors trends across Europe. To reverse it, Tallinn looks to models like Norway, where more than 80% of youth remain active through age 18. Reaching 50% active youth in Tallinn would be a milestone, not just for sport but for public health and social vitality.
Financially, Tallinn shoulders the majority of the responsibility for its sports ecosystem. National funding contributes about 10% to infrastructure, leaving local authorities to cover the rest. This imbalance pressures the city to make every euro count, prioritizing programs that create the highest community impact. At the same time, it grants Tallinn the freedom to innovate, to design youth programs, facility models and participation campaigns that fit its unique social and cultural context.
Tallinn’s strength also lies in its partnerships. Through the European Sports and Wellbeing Alliance for Municipalities (ESWAM), the city collaborates with European peers, exchanging knowledge and strategies to build healthier, more active societies. The focus isn’t on size or prestige but on quality, creativity and collaboration. By learning from cities in Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands and beyond, Tallinn positions itself as both a learner and a leader in the European movement for active living.
Event hosting plays a critical role in this story. Each year, Tallinn organizes over 100 international sports events, from marathons and Ironman triathlons to figure skating and rhythmic gymnastics championships. These events attract visitors, generate millions in economic activity and, perhaps most importantly, inspire locals to move. As European Capital of Sport, Tallinn has already seen € 4 million in additional funding and visibility. The International Children’s Games alone brought over 1.000 young athletes from 70 cities, igniting the next generation’s enthusiasm for sport. Behind the scenes, a small but dedicated team of three coordinates the city’s European Capital of Sport program year-round, ensuring that every event adds lasting value.
Looking ahead, Tallinn’s ambitions remain grounded yet bold. The city plans to maintain its sports budget in 2025 while fine-tuning its systems and exploring solutions for arena expansion. Data collection and impact measurement are now central to its strategy, ensuring that every initiative delivers tangible benefits. Jurtšenko and his team understand that transformation in sport, like training for any marathon, requires consistency, patience and vision.
Tallinn’s journey illustrates how sport can be both a mirror and a motor of social change. It reflects the city’s values of health, inclusion and resilience while driving economic growth and civic pride. From school gyms to city marathons, from neighborhood pools to international championships, Tallinn is not just hosting sports. It is building a culture where movement connects people, strengthens communities and shapes the future.
And as the city prepares for the next decade, one thing is clear: in Tallinn, sport is no longer just a pastime. It’s a policy, a passion and a promise to keep moving forward, together.
Ivar Jurtšenko head of unit @ City of Tallinn, Culture & Sports Department