At the epicenter of the Barcelona edition of the America’s Cup, the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica has today presented the strategy to turn the city and Catalonia into world leaders in the nautical field, through sport and sustainability, with the encouragement of blue economy, innovation and science, as well as education and the promotion of the culture of the sea. From this public-private entity, which coordinates all the administrations involved in the organization, it is stated that “if in 1992, with the arrival of the Olympic Games, we demonstrated that the city and the territory could open up to the world, the celebration of the The 37th edition of the Copa del América in Barcelona in 2024 is the opportunity to demonstrate the international potential of the territory”. They consider holding the America’s Cup in Barcelona a historic milestone for the city and the country, and also “an opportunity to reaffirm the position of Barcelona and Catalonia as venues for sporting events of international scope.”
The general director of the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica, Ignasi Armengol, stated this Thursday that what might seem complicated, getting all the administrations to agree, has ended up being “easy”. The president of the port of Barcelona, ??Lluís Salvadó, has come to affirm that “the Copa del América is one of the few things in the country that generates a consensus of brutal transversality”. The event, for now, has already mobilized 106 million euros in Port Vell, an investment made in equal parts by the public and private sectors, according to Salvadó.
The president of Barcelona Nautical Capital and Minister of Business and Labor of the Generalitat, Roger Torrent, affirms that work is being done so that the next edition of the America’s Cup is “the best in history”, and that it has a legacy and subsequent journey . He assures that the economic impact is “enormous”. In fact, a study by the Pompeu Fabra University has estimated that it will exceed 1,200 million euros (0.5% of Catalonia’s GDP in 2022), and that some 19,000 full-time jobs will be created.
Laia Bonet, third deputy mayor of Barcelona and vice-president of the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica, has remarked that “Barcelona wants to be the nautical capital of the world, and also the capital of the blue economy”. And she added that the Catalan capital has “the wind in its favor”. And in his first intervention as Government delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto has shown himself convinced that the third largest audience event in the world of sport “will once again put Barcelona, ??Catalonia and Spain at the center of the world”. He has also pointed out that public-private collaboration is “of vital importance”.
The foundation wants to provide the necessary infrastructure, services and promotion to ensure that the event is a success. Coordinates the authorities for the provision of permits for the use of agreed public spaces, security, emergencies, civil protection, information, promotion of the city and “everything necessary for the competition to be completed” . Likewise, it works to guarantee the financial stability of the event. And he wants the public to get involved by emulating the experience of volunteering at the Barcelona Olympic Games. In fact, the entity is convinced that “the role of the population in an event like this is of vital importance.” And that “their participation, their enthusiasm and support, already known since 1992, will once again be the key.” Barcelona Capital Nàutica recalls that Barcelona already demonstrated in 1992 its ability to “grow and excel” by hosting such an important event. Since then, he adds, the city “has not stopped being at the forefront, hosting all kinds of sports competitions, concerts and events.” The corporate director of America’s Cup Event Barcelona, ??organizer of the America’s Cup, Albert Vilumara, has pointed out that this event “cannot be understood without the involvement of people”.
At the same time, the foundation affirms that “in Catalonia we are seafarers”, and that “the historical and cultural link of the territory with the sea is undeniable”. And he adds that “we find his mark in traditions, gastronomy, art and literature, but above all in people.” For Barcelona Capital Nàutica, “this link with the sea is given by the sport of sailing, a practice with a great tradition in Catalonia and undoubtedly linked to the environment”. At the same time, he recalls that “for generations, sailors and fishermen have transmitted their knowledge and appreciation for the sea.” This entity, which has organized regattas of international relevance such as the Barcelona World Race, NY-BCN or the Europe Warm Up, wants to continue this legacy. In addition, it states that “without sea there is no navigation.” In this sense, it works to promote the blue economy, the decarbonisation of the recreational boat sector and increase society’s awareness of the marine ecosystem and its protection. And it has promoted an exhibition that will tour Catalonia to tell the history of sailing, the culture of the sea, the blue economy, the blue legacy and the America’s Cup.
The foundation, under the motto ‘Un mar obert per tothom’, is developing a program for the generation of synergies between the ports of the entire territory in areas of sustainability, awareness and connection with the America’s Cup. It has also created a directory of local companies so that they can offer their services and products to the teams that will compete. In order to incorporate knowledge of sailing in the classroom and promote technological knowledge in universities, they will promote an inter-university competition between Catalan universities to create small-scale radio-controlled boats, with the new foiling technologies, taking as reference the technology developed by the boats of the America’s Cup. It will include workshops and clinics for the teams, for the construction of the boats that will later have to compete among themselves.
In addition, from April 10 to 12, 2024, Barcelona will host an international conference that will bring together governments, leaders, the maritime sectors, philanthropic agents, universities, the private sector and NGOs to reflect on the achievements of the first three years of the Decade of Ocean and define a collective vision for the future. And among many other initiatives, work is being done, together with the Clúster Nàutic and Acció, to develop a 100% Catalan vessel that is a benchmark for electric vessels worldwide, as well as being a benchmark in charging points in the ports of Catalonia, especially in the Olympic Port of Barcelona.
