Editor's Letter
Latest News
More news articles Bring on Barcelona!
Last week, Athletics Weekly visited the host city for the biggest athletics event of the year to see if preparations are on track
Barcelona 2010 has already built a large army of volunteers
THIS year’s European Championships take place in one of the continent’s coolest cities at the height of summer. Athletes will compete in the same arena which staged the 1992 Olympics. When it comes to British athletes, the majority are making it their big goal for 2010, ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Yet despite this, the biggest problem is described by organisers as, quite simply, ‘ticket sales’. Carlos Martín, director of communications at the Barcelona 2010 organising committee, says: “The biggest challenge one year ago and the biggest challenge now is undoubtedly ticket sales.”
Nevertheless, Martín is highly optimistic that Barcelona will host a great European Championships. Indeed, there is no question of it being the best-ever held in Spain either, because surprisingly this will be the first time the Mediterranean nation has staged the prestigious event in its 76-year history.
“I am confident that we will stage a great championship,” says Martín. “As for the ticket sales – the stadium will have a capacity of 32,000 and already we have sold 8000 six-day tickets. This is good, because most people – and especially the Spanish – leave it late before making their decision to buy.”
Athletics Weekly met Martín and some of his organising team at the Barcelona Marathon, which was held earlier this month. They were busy drumming up support for the event at the marathon exhibition, selling T-shirts and tickets – capitalising on the 10,000 or so runners passing through to pick up their race chip and number.
If the city’s marathon is a microcosm of what we can expect when the track and field championships starts on July 27, then the omens are good. The organisation was excellent, with runners enjoying a scenic course that starts and finishes in the grand Plaça d’Espanya before passing the Nou Camp Stadium, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia church, the re-generated seafront area, plus the famous Las Ramblas street.
Taking advantage of the flat course and cool conditions, the race was won in 2:07:30 by Jackson Kotut of Kenya. It was the fastest time ever on Spanish soil, although organisers of the athletics championships in July will hope Spanish athletes make more of an impact.
Spain has a great athletics tradition, with athletes such as Fermín Cacho (pictured above winning the 1992 Olympic 1500m), Abel Anton (twice world marathon champion in the 1990s), Martín Fiz (Euro and world marathon champion in the 1990s) and Daniel Plaza (1992 Olympic 20km walk winner). But this summer the hopes will rest with walkers Paquillo Fernández and Jesus Angel Garcia, discus thrower Mario Pestano, high jumper Ruth Beitia, plus middle-distance runners Natalia Rodríguez, Marta Domínguez, Sergio Sánchez and Jesús España – fine prospects but the host nation will be lacking a Usain Bolt-style megastar.
“In Munich in 2002, Spain won 15 medals,” says Martín, “and in Gothenburg in 2006, Spain won 11 medals. So our goal is somewhere between 11 and 15.”
Barcelona is not simply thinking of success this summer, though. Leaving a legacy is important too. The city was transformed when it staged the 1992 Olympics, with a superb Olympic Park built in the Montjuic area together with improved transport links. And organisers hope this summer’s Euro event will also make a difference.
The main Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys de Montjuïc, for example, is currently being re-laid with a blue Mondo surface. In addition, the stadia used as warm-up areas for athletes – Joan Serrahima and Pau Negre – as well as in the two training facilities – Mar Bella and Can Dragó – are undergoing re-construction.
In total, a sum of 30 million euros is being spent on giving these facilities a facelift. It is unlikely they will turn into white elephants either, because while visiting Barcelona this month AW also found the swimming and gymnasium facilities at the Olympic Park to be busy.
This promises to be a tremendous summer of sport for Spain. The football-mad nation is currently the bookies’ favourite to win the FIFA World Cup this summer. During July, Alberto Contador, one of the country’s biggest sports stars, defends his Tour de France title.
Then, last but not least, track and field will take centre stage.
* Jason Henderson edits Athletics Weekly. See www.twitter.com/Jason_AW for athletics news and links
Read Athletics Weekly Online: Click here for a Free Trial
