The thirteenth year of the International Awards for Liveable Communities culminates today with an awards ceremony in Pilsen. In the final of this prestigious international competition, the world’s only contest between local governments focusing on sustainable development, quality of life and the environment, 30 delegations - of which 8 Czech - presented their communities in the Whole City Awards category. The international jury saw 22 projects from the area of the environment and sustainable development (Environmentally Sustainable Project Awards), of which one was from the Czech Republic. This is the largest representation of towns from the Czech Republic in the history of the contest. The jury’s final decision will be transmitted this evening in real time via the web site www.livcomawards.com.
The city of Pilsen, which has met with considerable success in past LivCom contests, was not able to participate this year in view of its role as competition host. For about the 200 foreign and domestic delegates it has prepared a base with professional services in the new Parkhotel, eminently suited for such an international contest. The accompanying programme allowed the finalists to enjoy Pilsen, both in the form of a tour of the historical city centre, ending in a visit to the Pilsner Urquell brewery, and a visit to the neo-Renaissance building of the Grand Theatre to see an excellent performance of Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme. Participants also visited the nearby chateau of Kozel, and the headquarters of the Bohemia Sekt company, the best-known Czech producer of sparkling wines, in Starý Plzenec.
As every year, the programme also included a UN seminar (the contest has won the support of its Environmental Programme) with the theme of Dealing with the Challenges of Sustainable Development. Former Czech Environment Minister Bedřich Moldan spoke at it on behalf of the Czech Republic.
Pilsen has paid great attention to the preparation and smooth running of this year’s LivCom Awards. Holding it here has increased awareness of the competition itself, and that helps to promote sustainable development and increasing the quality of life in cities.
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For more information, including the results of this year’s contest:
www.livcomawards.com
www.livcom2009.cz
Chief partners:
Congress Centre Parkhotel Pilsen:
www.parkhotel-czech.eu
Regional Authority of the Pilsen Region:
www.kr-plzensky.cz
Main partners:
Plzenska teplarenska a.s.: www.pltep.cz
Vodarna Plzen a.s.: www.vodarna.cz
Plzensky Prazdroj a.s.: www.prazdroj.cz
Press contact:
Katerina Jurikova
e-mail: jurikova@plzen.eu