Blue Night

Traditional sports, classic disciplines and firsts: everything under the stars will be present. This will be the theme of La Notte Blu for May 12-13. A non-stop event with games, tournaments, performances, rides, races, exhibitions, and shows.

The organziations of Assessorato all’Europa and the Politiche Giovanili- Europe Direct Office Firenze, in collaboration with L’Assessorato all Sport, with the contribution of the Quartieri and of the sport society for the occassion of the celebration of Europe.

For the first time, sport facilities, piazzas and streets, and Casine Park will be colored for a collective celebration of 27 hours that joins together locals and tourists. Everyone can try various activiites placed in every corner of the city, with a full schedule that hour after hour provides new opportunities.

The target of this program will be on the exploit of sports considered ‘minor’ during a time period that expresses a strong committment and value to the point of view of competitive sports, a the organizational level. Therefore, the Administration will highlight and promote all the cultural and sport principles laid out by the European Union in the White Paper on sport. Principles that gurantee citizens the power to use all sport facilities suitable for every age, social condition, and handicap by supporting social integration and tolerance between the people.

La Notte Blu 2012 edition...every event under the stars!!!

Why a Blue Night?

On May 9, 1950, Robert Schuman (former French Foreign Affairs Minister) released a plan to build a common institutional organization for some European states. This declaration, known as the ‘Schuman Declaration’, has since been recognized as the ‘staring point’ of the European Union, and the date of the speech as its birthday. This date (Europe Day) on May 9 has become a symbol of Europe, together with the flag, the anthem, the motto, and the montetary union (the Euro), indentirifies the European Union as a political entity. Europe Day is an occassion to give life to festivities and to organize activities that brings European citizens and people of the Union closer together. We decided to make a special effort to celebrate this occassion, during a period when the process of European integration is not easy.

Duration

La Notte Blu starts at 4pm Saturday May 12 and ends 27 hours later (one hour per each member country) at 7pm Sunday May 13. Expect some activities on Saturday morning in a special section called ‘Waiting on La Notte Blu.’