Barcelona and her relation to sport

Sport and Barcelonahappened. All of the IOC countries participated here for
Barcelona has a sporting tradition, the habitants ofthe first time since Munich 1972. South Africa was
Barcelona are the most sportive compared to theallowed again to participate after a 28 years
habitants of other big cities in Europe. The bike is usedsuspension for its apartheid policy. The German
more and more ( still less then in Holland). And theReunification of 1990 made germany participating with
climate is perfect for outside sporters. A soft climatea single team since 1960. The Sovjet Union was
without strong winters. The fact that Barcelona isdissolved in 1992 so the Baltic Nations of Estonia,
located at the seaside makes that the beaches andLatvia and Lithuania participated with their own teams
parks are most of the time full with joggers, skatersfor the first time since 1936. The other Sovjet republics
and bikers.took part in the Unified Team which was formed by
Barcelona is the homebase of the famous Spanishtwelve states. The break-up of Yugoslavia led to the
football team: FC Barcelona or Barca, one of thedebuts of Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia Herzegovina.
biggest in Europe and twice winner of the UEFAYugoslav athletes were not allowed to participate with
Champions Leaque. The club has his own stadiumtheir own team but could compete under the Olympic
called Camp Nou in the districs Les Corts. Members offlag as Independent Olympic Participants. Also Cuba
the club are called socios. . FC Barcelona has alsowho had boycotted the Olympics a lot of year
teams in the Spanish basketball ACB league, theparticipated again. The Paralympic archer Antonio
handball ASOBAL league and the roller hockey league.Rebollo lit the Olympic flame by firing a burning arrow
The club's museum is the second most visitedtowards the cauldron. In Basketball there was for the
museum in Catalonia. The second football club offirst time admittance of professional players, which
Barcelona is Espanyol, they used to have their ownmade the competition a lot easier for the American
stadium but now they're plaing there games in theDream Team with players like Micheal Jordan, Magic
Olympic stadium called Estadi Olìmpic LluìsJohnson and Larry Bird. Slalom canoeing returned to
on the Montjuic which was build for the Summerthe Games after a 20-year absence. Basque pelote,
Olympics. The two football stadiums are both UEFAroller hockey, teakwondo and Valencian pilota were
5-star rated.demo sports. The sporters were from all ages so won
The city was chosen to organize the Summerthe 13 year old Fu Mingxia the high diving event and 32
Olympics in 1992. Barcelona also hosted the X FINAyear old Christie Linford won the 100m. The musical
World Championships, twice the Eurobasket and thethemes for the Games were "Barcelona" written by
ATP Tour International Series Gold tennis tournament,Freddie Mercury and sung with Montserrat Caballe.
Open Seat Godo which is held annually in the facilitiesThey were to have performed the song during the
of the Reial Club de Tenis Barcelona. Every year thereopening ceremony, but due to Mercury's untimely
is a Formula 1 race, Formula One Spanish Grand Prix,death the year before the song was played over a
organized on the circuit de Catalunya in Montmelò,travelogue of the city at the start of the opening
a town close to Barcelona. On this circuit is also theceremony. The other musical theme was "Amigos
Catalan Motorcycle Gran Prix. There are marathonsPara Siempre", which means Friend for Life. This was
and other running competitions organized year-round.written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black.
Every year at Christmas there is a swimming raceAbout Barcelona
across the port and there is a massive skateBarcelona is the capital of Catalonia and the second
tournament. Skating has become really popular inlargest city in Spain, It is located on the Mediterranean
Barcelona which has led to a anti-skateboarding law.coast, with one of Europe's principal ports, and its
In 1992 the Summer Olympics were held in Barcelona.airport is the second largest in Spain. Founded as a
Barcelona is the hometown of IOC-president JuanRoman city, Barcelona is today an important cultural
Antonio Samaranch. Barcelona was selected overcentre and became a major tourist destination after
Amsterdam, Belgrado, Birmingham, Brisbane, Paris andthe 1992 World Olimpics. Particularly renowned are
Lausanne. Safety was the top-priority, they werearchitectural works of Antoni Gaudí that have
afraid for attacks of the ETA and demonstrations ofbeen designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
the Catalan independence fighters, but neither of this