The list, which contains such luminaries as Elton John, Russell T Davies, and Gok Wan, recognises the contribution gay people have made to Britain, and also honours Cardiff City Council leader Rodney Berman who appears at number 71. Berman entered into a civil partnership with his partner, ITV news journalist Nick Speed, in August 2006.

The announcement was made by officials from the European Capitals of Sports Association (ACES) at an event held in Valencia this week. 

The winning bid followed an inspection of the city by a team of delegates from Europe.
During the visit they took a tour of some of the city’s sporting facilities including Cardiff International White Water and Cardiff City Stadium.

It was recognised that Cardiff has firmly established itself as a leading city for sport, offering state of the art stadiums and facilities including the Millennium Stadium, SWALEC Stadium and Cardiff International Sport Stadium.

The title of European Capital of Sports recognises the city’s commitment to providing sport as a social function whilst using it to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of its citizens.

Cardiff has played host to many national and international events, including the Ashes, Rugby World Cup and FA Cup finals, helping to secure a worldwide audience of millions.

The Judges were particularly impressed with the support of grassroots sport through its Sport.Cardiff programme  helping to train and deploy hundreds of coaches into schools, sports clubs and communities and has provided over 350,00 participatory opportunities.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Rodney Berman said: "There is no denying the city already has a fantastic sporting pedigree.

"We have successfully delivered several large sporting events, established a leading grass roots sports programme and have some fantastic first class sports venues. Our approach to the development of sport through both the Private and Voluntary sectors has been heralded by the Judges as a best case example for Europe.

"Cardiff is an ambitious city and this will be a huge boost not only further heightening our status as a top sporting destination but underlining our commitment to sport as a way of promoting health and wellbeing."

Executive Member for Sport Leisure and Culture, Cllr Nigel Howells said: "To be awarded European Capital of Sports recognises the city’s investment of time and money to establish a successful sporting infrastructure and our dedication to ensuring there is access for sport to all."

"We should be both proud of the recognition and excited by what the future holds for sporting opportunities in the capital."

President of ACES, Gianfrancesco Lupattelli said: "Cardiff is a wonderful city with a genuine ambition to use sport to improve and change the lives of its citizens, there is a real connection between facility development, major events and grass roots school and community sport, the award for Cardiff is well deserved and they can now join a growing network of European Capitals and Cities"

Michaelston Community College - 28 per cent saving on CO2

In the last three years a total of 66 separate energy efficiency projects have been completed in 53 council buildings as the council works towards cutting CO2 emissions and reducing energy bills.

Examples include loft and cavity wall insulation, heating controls, pool covers on swimming pools to reduce heating and ventilation costs and motor controls on pool pumps and ventilation fans.

Compared to 2005-06 the council has seen around a 12.5 per cent reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions for all buildings, receiving energy efficiency measures, falling by 11.6 per cent. This equates to an annual saving of £264,126.

There have been some shining individual examples of reduction in C02 emissions at Llanishen High School (18 per cent). Llanishen Leisure Centre (21 per cent), Michaelston Community College (28 per cent) and Willcox House (22 per cent).

Cardiff Council has made a commitment to reduce 60 per cent of the authority’s carbon emissions from non domestic buildings and waste by 2018 and is the first local authority in Wales to set such an ambitious target. Further measures such as insulation, heating controls, lighting upgrades and replacement of inefficient hot water systems, are set to be implemented in schools.

The Council is now looking at future carbon reduction initiatives and strategies to achieve existing and future carbon reduction targets.

It has joined the 10:10 campaign which aims to achieve a 10 per cent in UK carbon emissions in 2010 and is looking to becoming involved in the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme which aims to give incentives to improve energy by directly rewarding energy savings.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman, said: “Cardiff Council is making excellent progress in reducing its carbon emissions. This is a hugely important project as it not only is vital for the environment that we meet our targets but in doing so the council will make significant efficiency savings at the same time.

“While we have short-term targets this is very much a long term project and, for example, the UK Climate Change Act has set targets for local authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. Public sector organisations currently account for approximately five per cent of the UK’s overall carbon emissions – equivalent to around 21 million tonnes of CO2 and the Council is fully committed in working towards meeting our targets and tackling this major environmental challenge.”

The latest report by Experian, who provide an in-depth analysis of the UK’s retail centres, shows that Cardiff has jumped impressively from 10th place to 6th.

The news comes on the back of the last month’s opening of St David’s, which according to Experian could potentially move the Welsh capital into the top five retail destinations by 2014.

The opening of St David’s saw an extra half a million people pass through the city centre in the first three days, with millions of people now travelling to the Welsh capital every week. This has seen Cardiff leapfrog Nottingham, Leeds, Edinburgh and Bluewater in Kent, putting it firmly on the map as one of the major retail players in the UK.

Extended shopping hours, new park and ride facilities as well as the new Freeb bus offering people a free option to travel around the city centre have all contributed to help make Cardiff a special retail destinaton.

Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman said: “I have been confidently predicting that on the back of St David’s, Cardiff would move up into the top 10 retail locations and now these figures show that we’ve clearly achieved that. When you look at the cities around us in the league table it is a clear indication of just how far Cardiff has come and underlines our status as a true European capital.

“When you add to St David’s and John Lewis, the popularity of Queen Street and the city centre’s Victorian arcades you have a unique retail destination and I’m proud that Cardiff is now getting the credit it deserves.”

Executive member for Economic Development, Councillor Neil McEvoy, added: “These latest figures show the economic impact of retail tourism on the city which is a huge boost for Cardiff in the current financial climate. When you look at the mix Cardiff now offers in terms of culture, retail, leisure and sport, coupled with its accessibility and compactness, Cardiff is a city that people clearly want to come and visit.”