The calendar is pressing and the Government’s support for the Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy for the 2031 Ryder Cup is still up in the air. The Catalan commitment to host one of the most prestigious competitions in the world of golf, which pits teams from Europe and the United States against each other every two years, awaits your support. “It would be unforgivable and seriously irresponsible on the part of the Government for Ryder to move to Madrid or to another place, when the organization’s priority is to do it here,” the president of Foment de Treball cried this morning on behalf of twenty of economic, social and sports entities.
The Diputació de Girona, Barcelona Global, the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, the College of Economists of Catalonia, Barcelona Turisme, the CÃrculo Ecuestre, the Diputació de Girona, the Restoration Guild, the Union of Sports Federations (UFEC) , or the Consell Comarcal de la Selva, are some of the twenty entities that have signed the manifesto ‘Save the Ryder Cup!’ to force the Government to get involved in an event that, according to its promoters, has an economic impact of more than 1,300 million, plus more than 2,500 hours of live television on 43 channels in 180 countries.
“We demand the support of the Generalitat so that it keeps its word and closes the candidacy to host one of the most important and followed sports competitions in the world,” reads the manifesto that was made public this morning. The venue for the 2031 Ryder Cup will be the PGA Catalunya, in Caldes de Malavella (Girona). His organization represents an investment of around 150 million euros in ten years, as explained by Ramon Nogué, president of the Catalan Golf Federation, which for now has the support of the Spanish Golf Federation. “In two or three months the space will have to be specified, if it cannot be in Caldes another location will be proposed to the organizers of the Ryder Cup,” warns Nogué.
In order to take on this competition and meet the organizers’ requirements -both for access, reception or stands to accommodate the spectators (some 270,000 people)- the PGA Catalunya will have to build a third course, which is equivalent to expanding the facilities in 170 hectares. “As planned in the Pla Territorial de Girona”, maintains the general director of PGA Catalunya, David Plana. The urbanization and construction of homes associated with this third field would not be included, for now, in the project according to PGA Catalunya.
“Officially we do not have any response from the Government, but if the Generalitat does not authorize this third field, we will not be able to host the Ryder Cup”, insisted Ramon Nogué. The promoters of the contest explain that for now, the state government has promised to contribute 40 million, private investment would amount to 30 million and between City Councils, Diputació de Girona and the Government another 60 million would be covered in ten years. However, now the main stumbling block for the organizers is supporting the essential project to expand the facilities.
“In Catalonia, public-private collaboration has always been a success. It is part of our business culture, it is the winning formula of Barcelona 92, or the Copa del América,” insisted Josep Sánchez Llibre. The president of the Union of Sports Federations of Catalonia (UFEC), Gerard Esteve, claimed the “commitment ” on the part of the Catalan executive: “Involvement in politics translates into budgets; We need to do it together and with commitment.”
