Barcelona and Catalonia have an ambitious plan in their sights to become the epicenter of major international sporting events.
The president of the Superior Sports Council, Víctor Francos, recently announced the government’s intention to hold a second America’s Cup, the World Athletics Championships in 2029.
Also the Rugby World Cup in 2031 or 2035, the Ryder Cup in 2031 (with aspirations for Girona to host), and a shared hosting of the 2030 Football World Cup with Portugal and Morocco.
In a colloquium organized by the Equestrian Circle, Francos highlighted the unprecedented commitment of the State by allocating an investment of 23 million euros for the 37th edition of the America’s Cup, scheduled between August and October 2024.
He pointed out that this event is just the beginning of a series of initiatives aimed at consolidating the presence of Barcelona and Catalonia on the world map of sport.
Catalonia seeks to consolidate its position as an epicenter for international sporting events
Team New Zealand, organizers of the America’s Cup, have expressed an interest in hosting Barcelona again if they win the regatta next year.
Francos highlighted the strong will of the team and mentioned that “the reputation and the image we have given them is good enough for them to have the idea of staying here”.
With the possibility of another team winning next year’s Copa America, Francos joked, “Whoever wins, how are they going to want to leave Barcelona?”, highlighting the city’s attractiveness as a host of renowned sporting events.
In relation to the 2030 World Cup, the president of the CSD urged the Barcelona City Council and the Generalitat to make a firm commitment to ensure that Catalonia and Barcelona play a leading role in this international event.
He underscored the capacity and responsibility of these institutions to make crucial decisions regarding the region’s participation in the tournament.
The 2031 Ryder Cup, the 2029 World Cup in Athletics and the Rugby World Cup in 2031 or 2035 are also on the agenda of Barcelona and Catalonia. Francos expressed the importance of working together to achieve these objectives, highlighting the government’s interest and dedication to consolidating the region’s position as a reference in the world of sports.
What about the Montmeló F1 circuit?
Despite these exciting prospects, Francos acknowledged that the survival of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Montmeló circuit could be in jeopardy for the first time. The current concession expires in 2026 and there is a project in Madrid competing with Barcelona to host the competition.
Francos pointed out that Formula One is a private business and that the final decision rests on who offers the best bid, not only from an economic point of view.
