Catalan and Spanish institutions come together to celebrate 25th anniversary of Barcelona Olympics

Catalan and Spanish institutions came together on Tuesday July 25 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics, a source of great local pride and a symbol of a successful endeavour made possible by cooperation.

“The 1992 games were only possible because society and institutions worked together,” said Catalan president Carles Puigdemont. “Dialogue and cooperation allowed us to achieve the goal without any reproach or impositions.”

At a time when governments in Catalonia and Spain are clashing over the legality of the independence referendum to be held on October 1, the anniversary of the Barcelona Olympics provided a timely opportunity to come together and offer an unlikely image of unity.

The Spanish King Felipe VI said the Summer Olympics were an “absolute success”, not only for Barcelona, but also for Catalonia and Spain as a whole. “It was possible thanks to joint effort and because everybody worked with commitment, generosity and solidarity,” he said.