Cities are in constant transition. The way we move, meet, work and spend our free time looks fundamentally different from just a decade ago. Traditional sports clubs remain incredibly valuable, but they no longer represent the complete picture. New communities emerge online. Public spaces are expected to fulfil more functions than ever. Data increasingly guides public investment. Health has become a shared responsibility across sectors, while every square metre of urban space is under growing pressure. The question is no longer whether our cities should adapt. The real question is how.
That question lies at the heart of this fourth edition of the ESWAM eMagazine. Each article explores a different perspective on the same transition. We look beyond traditional sport to understand how esports is creating new forms of social connection, how streets can once again become places where people belong, how Budapest is bringing sport back into its city centre and how municipalities are using data to make better decisions about sports facilities. We explore Europe's improving bathing water quality as an opportunity to encourage healthier lifestyles. And we challenge ourselves with perhaps the most important question of all: what does it actually cost to build an active society and can we afford not to make those investments?
What connects these stories is a growing recognition that sport is no longer a sector operating alongside urban development. It has become part of the way we think about health, mobility, public space, social cohesion, climate resilience and economic vitality. The cities that recognise these connections today will be better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
One story particularly got my attention since it reached its completion. In this edition, we introduce the Athletics Park in Bacău, Romania. What began at the end of 2020 as a conversation with the ESWAM became something visible. By connecting the Region and Municipality of Bacău with the Danish architects of Keingart, inspiration evolved into implementation. Today, that vision has become a vibrant public space where athletics is no longer confined to organised training, but has become accessible to everyone. It perfectly reflects what ESWAM strives to achieve: creating meaningful European connections that lead to tangible local impact. We are therefore proud that the upcoming ESWAM eMagazine Special #4.1 will tell you the complete story behind this remarkable project.
Behind every successful project stand committed municipalities, researchers, designers, entrepreneurs and organisations that each contribute their own expertise. Throughout this edition you will also discover the company profiles of organisations that work alongside cities every day to turn ambition into practical solutions. Innovation rarely comes from a single organisation. It grows where public ambition meets private expertise and where knowledge is openly shared across borders.
That belief will continue to guide ESWAM in the months ahead. On September 9, Dublin and Waterford will share how the Active Cities approach is strengthening communities during our webinar "The Power of Belonging". From October 5 to 7, we will meet in Sliema, Malta, to explore how one of Europe's most densely populated urban environments is creating healthier, more active and more connected neighbourhoods. This "Sliema. Active Coastal Community." trip expands our collective understanding. Every conversation creates new opportunities. Every partnership brings Europe one step closer to building cities where wellbeing is a natural part of everyday life.
Perhaps that is the greatest lesson from this edition. The future of our cities will not be shaped by one breakthrough project or one innovative policy. It will be built through thousands of shared ideas, courageous decisions and meaningful collaborations. Our role at the ESWAM is to bring those people together, to inspire action and to help cities learn from one another.
I hope these pages encourage you to look differently at your own city, to start new conversations and to take the next step. Because every transformation begins with a single idea but it only becomes reality when people choose to build it together.
So, make yourself comfortable, explore these stories, and let them spark new ideas for your own city or project. For now, grab a coffee (or tea or water), get comfy and enjoy the read!
Arno Hermans
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