Barcelona Institute of Sports Report for 2023: Key sports points
Barcelona continues to stand out as a city with a global standing in the world of sport, according to the Barcelona Institute of Sports (IBE) Report for 2023.
The city continues to rank seventh in the BCW4, which assesses global sports importance based on evaluations by international federations, the media and experts in this sector. This classification reaffirms Barcelona as a leading centre for sports.
Notable events in 2023 included the Vuelta a España, which enjoyed great success in terms of turnout and media coverage as it returned to the city, consolidating its importance on the international cycling calendar. The city also hosted the World Padel Tour Estrella Damm Barcelona Master Final, an event that brought together the world’s top players and demonstrated the exponential growth of padel on a global scale.
In addition, the city hosted events such as a round of the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup, the ORC Double Handed World Championship and the CSIO Barcelona, a classic in the world of horse riding. These events not only attracted athletes and enthusiasts from all over the world, but also helped project the image of Barcelona as a city that lives and breathes sport.
2023 was also a year of preparation for the 37th America’s Cup, which got under way last week in Barcelona. Regarded as one of the most important events in the sailing world, the competition further strengthened the city’s position as a sports capital. In this context, the programme “Viu la Vela” was a resounding success, with 5,300 students from 128 schools taking part in activities to promote sailing.
The city also saw a notable increase in the number of sports events organised and backed by the IBE, reaching 113 in all, with over 222,000 sportspeople taking part. This represents an increase of 34.3% compared to the previous year, highlighting the massive return to sports competitions among people following the years of the pandemic.
Popular events such as La Mercè Fun Run, the Firefighters’ Fun Run and The Nose Race regained levels of participation from before the pandemic, demonstrating the vitality of popular sport in the city.
In all, 2023 was a year when Barcelona consolidated its position a a top-class location for sports events, with an international projection that continues to grow thanks to the organisation of major competitions and preparations for historical events such as the America’s Cup.
You can find full information in the IBE report for 2023.