The countdown has already begun. Barcelona has just been designated to host the next edition of the America's Cup, the oldest sports competition in the world and one of those with the greatest economic and media impact, only behind the Olympic Games and the football World Cups. The public administrations and civil society of the city have fully committed to convincing the organizers and have succeeded, managing to attract an event that is expected to leave 1,000 million euros in the city and be followed by 940 million spectators. What tipped the balance in favor of the Catalan capital against the other candidates was a factor as simple, and at the same time as complicated, as its way of being.
"It was the emotion we felt as an organization that made us automatically make the decision," explained Grant Dalton, CEO of Emirates Team New Zealand, the winning team of the previous edition and responsible for organizing the one to come in 2024. The warmth and commitment shown by the city have become the main virtues that have allowed it to prevail over cities such as Malaga, Cork (Ireland), and Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
The organization of this sporting event has also taken into account the existing maritime infrastructures in the city, which will not require a large investment to host the regatta, as well as its attractiveness and history. "Barcelona is one of the most recognized cities in the world, so it is very exciting that it can host the most recognized sailing event in the world. As defender of the America's Cup, we have always felt the responsibility to grow the event, the audience and the sport of sailing on a global scale and, without a doubt, organizing the event in such an important city as Barcelona will allow us to drive this growth," Dalton stated at the presentation of the Catalan capital as the winning bid.
"We have always felt the responsibility to grow the event, the audience and the sport of sailing on a global scale and, without a doubt, organizing the event in such an important city as Barcelona will allow us to drive this growth," defends Grant Dalton, spokesperson for the organizing team.The bet on Barcelona has benefited from the fact that the Catalan capital hosted the 1992 Olympic Games, an episode remembered "with pride" by New Zealand sailing, since it was the most successful edition for this country, which won four medals. "Everyone remembers the '92 Olympics," the New Zealand spokesperson said.In fact, the Catalan capital will become the first city in the world to host both events, the America's Cup organization has stressed.
The president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, has appealed to that Olympic spirit. "In the same way that the '92 Games were the best in history, now we have to make it possible with the America's Cup," he defended. Aragonès has applauded the collaboration of all institutions, from the Government to the City Council, as well as the support provided by private initiative. "When we align, things work and work well," he stated.
For her part, the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, has stressed that the message of unity and coordination launched by the city demonstrates that it is prepared to host the best edition of this competition. Colau has highlighted the America's Cup's commitment to innovation and sustainability, as well as the fact that the Barcelona edition will be the first time it will have a women's and youth modality.
Barcelona Global, deeply involved in promoting the winning bid, through its investment agency, Barcelona & Partners, sees the event as a win-win for the organization and, also, for the city. "Barcelona wins when we go together; it wins with consensus; it wins when there is public-private collaboration and commitment; it wins when it adds up, and it wins with the excitement of great challenges like this," said the president of Barcelona Global, Aurora Catà.
The consensus between institutions and private initiative has also translated into mobilizing the necessary resources to attract the America's Cup. The total budget will be around 70 million euros, of which 45 million will be contributed with a specific purpose by the administrations. The City Council will allocate ten million euros, a figure similar to what it dedicates to the Mobile World Congress (MWC), while the Government and the Generalitat will have to share the rest. Turismo de Barcelona will contribute five million euros, largely assumed by the Diputación de Barcelona. Private agents have contributed with a guarantee of 25 million euros.
First details of the competition
Although there is still a long way to go before seeing the six teams that will participate in the 37th edition of the America's Cup of Sailing compete, which will be held in September and October 2024, the city has begun to prepare. The Port of Barcelona, one of the institutions involved in attracting the competition, already has the first details of how it will be experienced in the city defined. This event will pit the five aspiring teams against each other in a preliminary phase, known as the Prada Cup, in a one-on-one, and the winner will compete against New Zealand in the grand final.
According to its president, Damià Calvet, the regatta course will extend between the W Hotel and the Port Olímpic, with an area two miles long and one mile wide, allowing it to be enjoyed from the entire Barcelona coastline. The village for this event will be at Moll de la Fusta.
This event will pit the five aspiring teams against each other in a preliminary phase, in a one-on-one, and the winner will compete against New Zealand in the grand finalLikewise, Calvet explained that each team will have a technical base, close to the sea, where the boat with which they will compete and offices and support rooms will be located. Around 200 people make up each team, and it is expected that some 2,500 people will participate in the organization of the entire event. It is estimated that the teams will begin sailing along the Barcelona coast this year, with the aim of understanding the characteristics of its sea, and that they will be based in the city one year before the competition begins.
The six team bases will be distributed throughout Port Vell, making "the entire city host the America's Cup," Calvet emphasized. Specifically, they will be in Marina Barcelona '92, Nàutic Center, the former Cinesa building, the Grimaldi terminal, and the Imax Port Vell, where New Zealand and the America's Cup offices will be located. This last location will mean postponing the demolition of this cinema, Calvet announced, without this delaying the schedule for the Liceu to locate its second headquarters in the port.
An opportunity for the city
Barcelona, as a city open to the sea, will not only project itself to the world during the 14 weeks the event lasts, but will also highlight the local fabric around the nautical sector. The president of Club Natació Barcelona, Bernat Antràs, sees the America's Cup as an opportunity to popularize sailing in the Catalan capital, taking into account its geographical location and climatic conditions. Antràs also points out that his club, right in the port, can benefit from all the traffic that the competition will generate, offering attendees a space to train and swim. Precisely, the renovation they are carrying out in the facilities will be ready for when the sporting event takes place. "The America's Cup fits us perfectly," he emphasizes.
The president of the Salón Náutico, Luis Conde, adds that the competition will mean a boost for the nautical and sailing sector, which has already overcome the pandemic with flying colors, as was confirmed in the last edition of the Fira de Barcelona event, which, coincidentally, is also organized in October. "The America's Cup is the Mobile World Congress of nautical, it will be very good for Barcelona," he defends.
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