Climate activists call for protest against Formula 1 roadshow in Barcelona

Climate activists will protest against the Formula 1 roadshow in Barcelona on June 19.

The event, the first of its kind, will see F1 cars drive through the center of Barcelona ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, which will be held at the Montmeló racetrack on June 23.

The protest has been scheduled for 5.30 pm, half an hour before the roadshow begins, at the intersection of Aragó and Balmes streets.

"We say no to an urban model based on large-scale events that privatize public spaces, where public money is spent for the benefit of big tourism lobbies," Jordi Elgström , from the Eixample Respira platform, said.

Announcing the protest, organizers also criticized that the show has the support of the Catalan government and the city council.

"They are selling the city in front of our faces," he said.

"The city cannot be the stage of Formula 1 shows with smoke, noise, speed, and thousands of visitors," Jaume Artigas, member of the Dreta de l'Eixample neighbors association, said during the press conference.

Artigas highlighted that Vallès County has been suffering such events for years, during "a moment with mass tourism" and "residents' discomfort."

"Polluting, eccentric, and private" show is what Jordi Elgström, from the Eixample Respira platform, said. He even criticizes that the show has the support of the Catalan government and the city council.

F1 cars will drive along Passeig de Gràcia boulevard in the city center, a wide avenue that allows enough space for the drivers to do donuts and for spectators to watch the spectacle.

There will also be a Fan Village installed in Plaça Catalunya, at the bottom of Passeig de Gràcia. The site will accommodate a stage, fan zone and food and drink stands.

City council told to cancel roadshow

The Catalan Ombudsman (Síndic de Greuges) said that the F1 roadshow is "inconsistent" with sustainable mobility policies and respect for the rights to public space, a healthy environment and health.

The institution said that the event should not be held in the city center, but at the Circuit de Catalunya racetrack, in the town of Montmeló, and even urged the council to "consider canceling it."

According to the Ombudsman, it is "difficult to justify" the authorization of polluting activities in a context of climate crisis.

'Event is compatible with tackling pollution' 

Barcelona city council defended the roadshow after the event came under fire. 

The council, led by Jaume Collboni, said the event was "perfectly compatible" with its "firm compromise" to "continue to reduce traffic, CO2 and noise pollution." 

The city government stressed that it was a "temporary and exceptional" event and defended that the event gave Barcelona and Catalonia an "international projection."