Sport for La Mercè: Promoting sport with a varied range of physical activities
Barcelona City Council, through the Barcelona Institute of Sports (IBE), has prepared an extensive sports programme for La Mercè 2024, with activities for people of all ages and preferences.
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Cursa de la Mercè Bimbo Global Race 2024
One of the most notable events is the 46th edition of the fun run, the Cursa de la Mercè Bimbo Global Race, which is being held on 29 September and starts at 8.30 am. Around 12,000 runners will be gathering to tackle a route around the streets in the centre of Barcelona.
This year’s event includes the new Cursa Familiar Mercè Bimbo Global Race, a festive non-competitive occasion, ideal to enjoy with the family and adopting a short route in the city centre.
Inclusive sport is a key value for this event, which is why there’s also another edition of the Cursa inclusiva 2K de la Mercè Bimbo Global Race. This option is adapted for participants over the age of 14 with intellectual disabilities or reduced mobility who can’t complete the 10 km distance for physical reasons.
Childcare service
To make sure nobody misses the run as they have to care for young children, families taking part in the event have a childcare service available to them. The service is aimed at children between the ages of 3 and 11 and will be located in a space set up especially for the occasion near the start line. It will be operating from 7 am to 11 am. Once participants complete the run, they can enjoy the party.
More solidarity than ever
The Cursa de la Mercè Bimbo Global Race is also a solidarity initiative, as the money raised from registrations will go to Salut Mental Catalunya, an organisation that provides support and care for people with mental health problems and their families.
Under the slogan “Your gesture is worth double”, the collection of empty runner chips becomes a solidarity and environmental action, avoiding pollution and making a donation to Salut Mental Catalunya.
11th Fitness Festival
Plaça Catalunya is hosting the 11th Fitness Festival on 22 September, a 45-minute fitness masterclass given by instructors from various sports centres in Barcelona. The session aims to foster health and exercise, with a special emphasis on inclusion. As part of the Barcelona Sport Includes programme, the choreographies will be adapted for people with reduced mobility, who will also have access to a reserved area in front of the stage.
11th Inclusive Meeting
Passeig Lluís Companys sets the scene for the 11th Inclusive Meeting on 29 September, from X am to X pm. Participants will be able to discover and enjoy different adapted sports, such as basketball, sailing, hockey, rugby, volleyball, boccia, slalom and football. There’s a chance to practise these from 10 am to 2 pm. The initiative is part of the Barcelona Sport Includes programme, promoted by Barcelona City Council and co-organised by the Barcelona Institute of Sports and the Catalan Sports Federation for people with physical disabilities.