(Reuters) – Barcelona will host the 2024 America’s Cup sailing race, city mayor Ada Colau has announced on social media.
A news conference with America’s Cup holders Team New Zealand (TNZ) is scheduled for later on Tuesday to make the official announcement that the capital of Catalonia has been chosen as host city for the 37th edition.
As winners of the last America’s Cup, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron have the right to decide the next host city.
They have plumped for Barcelona to take over as hosts from Auckland after Irish city Cork withdrew from consideration, wth the Spanish city winning the bid against Malaga and Jeddah.
“Attention, we have great news for the city’s sport and economy: Barcelona will host the 2024 America’s Cup sailing.” Colau published on her Facebook account.
TNZ won the Auld Mug in 2017 and retained the trophy in 2021 with a 7-3 victory over Luna Rossa in Auckland but rejected a $99 million bid from the New Zealand Government and Auckland Council to host the next edition.
The America’s Cup yacht race is the oldest event in international sport, established in 1851.
Barcelona is also set to be part of a bid to host the 2030 Winter Olympics after Spain’s Catalonia and Aragon regions this week reached agreement for a joint candidacy for the Games.
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(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Ken Ferris)
