Indaial

Indaial is a municipality in the state of Santa Catarina, located in the Itajaí Valley, 160 kilometres from Florianópolis. With a population of approximately 54,800 inhabitants, the city is distinguished by its rich European — especially German — colonial heritage, which permeates its architecture, gastronomy, and culture. Historically oriented towards the textile industry and agriculture, Indaial has built a solid ecosystem of services and community sport over recent decades.

In 2022, the city was recognised by ACES Europe with the title of South American City of Sport, an award endorsed by the European Parliament and UNESCO, in recognition of the successful 'Programa Semente': a sports initiation model that guarantees access to multiple disciplines for children and adolescents in the municipality. This international recognition places Indaial as a Latin American benchmark in grassroots sports public policy, and links it to the global ACES Activa ecosystem.