The Mayor, Aurora Carbonell, collected the flags in an awards ceremony held in Lloret de Mar, also attended by the Minister of Territory, Housing and Ecological Transition, Sílvia Paneque.

The Sitges beaches that will fly the blue flag are Les Botigues, Garraf, Aiguadolç, Balmins, Sant Sebastià, La Ribera, L’Estanyol, La Barra and Terramar. The sports port of Port Ginesta and the Port de Sitges – Aiguadolç also gained blue flags.

The awards are given by the international Blue Flag jury from the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), in collaboration with the Environmental and Consumer Education Association (ADEAC), and recognise the environmental quality of beaches and ports in 51 countries around the world. The awards recognise excellence in the quality of water, facilities and the optimal provision of services, correct environmental management and assistance for people with functional diversity.

In all, 101 beaches and 24 ports all around Catalonia gained this recognition.

Services at the beaches in Sitges fully rolled out for Sant Joan

Coinciding with the start of the high season for Sant Joan, lifesaving and rescue services will be fully operational at the beaches in Sitges. As from 24 June and during July and August the service will be operating at all the beaches from 10 am to 7 pm. Lifeguards will also be providing assisted bathing services with amphibious wheelchairs for people with reduced mobility. This service is provided at the beaches of Les Botigues, Garraf, Aiguadolç, Balmins, Sant Sebastià, La Ribera, L’Estanyol, La Barra and Terramar. Shaded areas will be installed at assisted bathing areas as from 24 June.

New aspects this season also include the installation of 492 accessible wooden walkways at the beaches in the municipality, to continue improving access to bathing areas and the different services at the beaches, plus areas of shade for assisted bathing, lifesaving modules, showers and toilets. This means that 17 access points have been set up at the different beaches in the municipality.

This summer also brings a pilot project for a new support system for sea rescue, with three life boards located at the beaches of La Fragata - La Ribera, Sant Sebastià and Garraf. The boards allow anybody to respond immediately in the case of an emergency in the water while specialised services arrive.

In parallel, the coastal cleaning service has been operating since 15 June with a boat that covers the coastline daily to remove solid floating objects up until 15 September. The beaches also have all seasonal services in place, including beach bars and sailing schools, offering sports and free-time activities linked to the sea.