Barcelona opens door to hosting future Olympic Games again

The Barcelona city council has opened the door to possibly hosting a future Olympic Games again.

"We are always open to it, be it for 2036, 2040 or 2044," the councilor for sports, David Escudé, said at business event RethinkBCN.

Sports, the councilor said, makes up an "intangible part of city pride that is very important."

Escudé also explained that some of the facilities that were built for the 1992 Olympic Games now need updating, and suggested that he is confident of being able to give "very good news" at some point soon.

"Excellent" America's Cup

The councilor also gave an "excellent" assessment of the America's Cup sailing event that has been taking place in Barcelona since August.

Escudé avoided speaking about figures that question the economic impact the event will leave in the city, and instead focussed on the competition being a "very good example" of public-private collaboration.

"When the work is done as a team, this city has no limits and we can aspire to any goal," he said.

The politician also announced the council will launch a 'blue week' for 6th grade students which will be an expansion on the 'Viu la vela' sailing project. The initiative will feature low-cost access to sailing facilities for students. 

Other future events

The America's Cup is a "small revolution for the city at an urban, social and sporting level," Escudé said, before adding that the city could host more large-scale international events in the future. 

Escudé's aim is that Barcelona hosts "major sporting or cultural events every year," and revealed that authorities are holding negotiations "discreetly."

"We don't want to just leave it at the America's Cup," he said.

On the other hand, Escudé ruled out hosting the 2025 Euroleague Final Four in Barcelona, but he assured that this "does not mean that the door will be closed" for future editions of the basketball competition.