The 'Day of the Nationalities' brings together in its fifth edition more than 2000 people in l'Aigüera Park

'Somos Benidorm, We are Benidorm' is the motto of this act that today has honored Carlos Casteluccio

The platform 'Edusiónate' had an information stand at the event to encourage citizen participation in the project

The fifth edition of the 'Day of Nationalities' has gathered today more than 2000 people who, from twelve noon, have gathered in the Park of l'Aigüera of Benidorm to celebrate the cosmopolitan coexistence of the city and enjoy typical products of up to 19 different nationalities in 30 exhibitors, in an event that takes place every year under the slogan 'We are Benidorm, We are Benidorm'.

The event, organized by the Department of Citizen Participation with the collaboration of the Neighborhood Council, pays tribute each year to a neighbor of Benidorm native to another country. This year the honoree, in an official ceremony held at six o'clock in the afternoon, was Carlos Casteluccio, who has received recognition from the mayor of Benidorm and president of the Neighborhood Council, Toni Pérez; accompanied by the mayor of Participación Ciudadana, María Jesús Pinto; the first vice president of the Neighborhood Council, Fernando Montes; and the second vice president of the Neighborhood Council, Christian Corriani. In the act were present several mayors of the municipal corporation, as well as representatives of different neighborhood groups.

Carlos Casteluccio is from Argentina, his mother Spanish and his father Italian, and has been living in Benidorm for more than thirty years. The honoree, who sang two emotive Latin American songs for the public, said that "it is an honor that I want to extend to all foreign residents in Benidorm of all nationalities."

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, has emphasized that "the neighborhood movement and citizen is the umbilical cord of this city", and stressed that it is "the soul of this cosmopolitan and welcoming city" that has turned Benidorm into the European capital of the sun and the beach. Pérez had words of recognition for Casteluccio for his "selfless and dedicated work so that Benidorm is a better city".

The first vice president of the Neighborhood Council, Fernando Montes, recalled in his opening speech the past of "sailors from Benidorm who toured the world" and who were the first bridge for this city to reach people from all over. For his part, the second vice president of the Neighborhood Council, Christian Corriani, wanted to recognize many "citizens of the world who live and are from Benidorm for years".

Throughout the day the attendees were able to enjoy a selection of typical products and crafts, as well as the folkloric performances of the countries on stage set up in the Oscar Esplá auditorium for the official event. A fun and convivial day, a party that represents the 106 nationalities that live in Benidorm and with which it is intended to celebrate the plural and multi-ethnic character of the city. This year, stands have been installed in Germany, Argentina, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Spain, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Russia, Venezuela, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Information about EDUSI

Among the stands installed in the park, the Civic Platform of Support for EDUSI (Strategy for Sustainable and Integrated Urban Development) was particularly important. During the whole day, the project was made known to all the people who attended the event . A project through which you could get to obtain grants of up to 10 million euros from the European Union FEDER funds to finance different projects to improve the city.

One of the mainstays on which EDUSI is evaluated is that citizen participation is involved in the proposals, something that was not conveniently achieved in the previous call, so this year the platform 'Edusionate' is carrying out different meetings with social groups, as well as installing information points in different activities and events, as has happened today in the celebration of Nationalities Day.