America’s Cup: Barcelona mayor says city will host 2024 edition, New Zealand judge threatens legal action
- Mayor of Spanish city makes announcement ahead of any official word from cup holders Team New Zealand
- Retired judge Sir Edmund Thomas says he will sue to stop event being taken overseas
The mayor of Barcelona has announced that the next contest for sailing’s America’s Cup is set to be held in the Spanish city in 2024.
In a video posted on social media, Mayor Ada Colau said Barcelona had been chosen as the host city for the 37th Cup regatta. The statement came ahead of any official announcement by America’s Cup-holder Team New Zealand.
After defending the Auld Mug off Auckland last year, Team New Zealand indicated it was unlikely that the next regatta would take place on home waters because of funding difficulties.
The team effectively put the cup hosting rights up for tender and invited cities around the world to bid. Barcelona emerged as the most likely venue when the Irish city of Cork withdrew its bid on Monday.
Cork was responding to advice from the Irish government and other agencies which suggested Cork harbour could not be made ready for the regatta in the time available.
“An event of the calibre of the America’s Cup brings with it an expectation of excellent delivery,” Ireland’s Department of Tourism and Sport said in a statement. “The tight time frame available prior to the 37th edition of the Cup brought with it a large risk of under delivery.”
Cork’s withdrawal left the field open to Barcelona.