Barcelona reflects on the future of sport and major events at the 16th Olympic Forum – Romà Cuyàs Memorial

Barcelona once again became the center of international dialogue on sport, city, and legacy with the inauguration of the XVI Olympic Forum – Romà Cuyàs Memorial, a gathering that brought together leading figures from the sports, institutional, and academic fields to reflect on the future of Olympism and major sporting events.

The first day of the Forum, held in the Catalan capital, focused on the major challenges and opportunities facing large-scale sporting events today, from public-private collaboration to their social, economic, and international projection impact.

A strategic dialogue space for the future of sport

The inaugural event highlighted the Forum's importance as a space for strategic reflection on sport and Olympism, underscoring Barcelona's role as a leading city in organizing major sporting events and generating knowledge in this field.

Attendees included institutional representatives, members of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation's Board of Trustees, and professionals from the sports sector, consolidating the Forum as a key meeting point for exchanging ideas and experiences.

Olympism, collaboration, and legacy

The day began with an institutional greeting from the presidency of the International Olympic Committee, followed by an intervention focused on the future of Olympism and the challenges facing the Olympic movement in a constantly changing global context.

One of the central themes of the session was public-private collaboration in organizing major sporting events. The debate analyzed success stories, organizational challenges, and good practices aimed at maximizing the social, economic, and international image impact of these events, especially for host cities like Barcelona.

Economic impact and sports management

The program continued with a presentation dedicated to the economic and social impact of major sporting events, based on a study conducted by the University of Barcelona, focusing on the effects derived from hosting the America's Cup 2024 in the city.

Federation management in major competitions was also addressed, highlighting the importance of institutional coordination, strategic planning, and continuous learning to ensure the success of large-scale events.

The day also emphasized the role of major sports clubs as strategic actors in Barcelona's international projection and their social impact beyond the strictly sporting sphere.

Looking at mind and performance

The first day of the XVI Olympic Forum was moderated by journalist Jordi Fandiño and concluded by reaffirming the institutional commitment to the development of sustainable major sporting events with a legacy.

The Forum will continue with a second session focused on mind and sports performance, which will address the importance of the psychological factor in high performance, with the participation of representatives of Olympic sport and top-level athletes. The session can also be followed live via streaming.