The Olympics Games Barcelona 1992, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Barcelona City, Spain, between July 25 and August 9, 1992. In this edition, 9356 athletes – 6652 men and 2704 women – from 169 national committees participated.
Transformation of Barcelona city for the Olympic Games 1992
The concession of the Games served to promote the urban transformation of Barcelona city with the Olympic ring of Montjuic, the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys, which was built on the foundations of another that King Alfonso XIII had built for the International Exhibition (here were held the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games), Barcelona experienced an improvement of infrastructure in all districts, the rehabilitation of buildings, and the opening of the city to the Mediterranean Sea through the construction of the Olympic Village of Poblenou and the Olympic Port.
Where is the Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys?
The benefits were not limited to Barcelona, as a decentralized model was followed with sub-venues in other parts of the metropolitan area and the rest of Catalonia.
During the Olympic Games, 43 facilities were used, of which fifteen were newly built, eight in Barcelona and seven in the sub-venues, and another ten were remodeled venues. The whole plan was designed around four Olympic areas: the Montjuic area as the main point around Montjuic Mountain; the Parc del Mar area, around the Olympic port, the Diagonal area, and the Vall d’Hebron area.
Montjuic:
Sports events held during Barcelona Olympic Games 1992
At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics Games, 257 events were held in 25 official sports. The IOC incorporated badminton and baseball into the official program. Among the disciplines that were already Olympic, a women’s judo category was incorporated and slalom canoeing, absent since Munich 1972, was recovered.
Official Sports at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics:
- Athletics (43)
- Badminton (4)
- Basketball (2)
- Handball (2)
- Baseball (1)
- Boxing (12)
- Cycling
- Track cycling (7)
- Road cycling (3)
- Water sports
- Swimming (31)
- Synchronized swimming (2)
- Jumps (4)
- Waterpolo (1)
- Horsemanship (6)
- Fencing (8)
- Soccer (1)
- Gymnastics
- Artistic gymnastics (14)
- Rhythmic gymnastics (1)
- Weightlifting (10)
- Field Hockey (2)
- Judo (14)
- Fight
- Greco-Roman (10)
- Free (10)
- Modern Pentathlon (2)
- Canoeing
- Still waters (12)
- Slalom (4)
- Rowing (14)
- Tenis (4)
- Table tennis (4)
- Archery (4)
- Sport shooting (13)
- Sailing (10)
- Volleyball (2)
Medals awarded
The Unified Team led the medal tally with 112 medals: 45 gold, 38 silver, and 29 bronze. Followed by the United States (108), Germany (82), China (54), and Cuba (31). As for the host country, Spain won a total of 22 medals: 13 gold, 7 silver, and 2 bronze. This was a milestone to date since such a collection of medals has never been repeated at a Game. The data from Barcelona 92 is overwhelming.
“Friends forever.”
The emblem of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games was designed by Josep Maria Trias. It represents an abstract human figure formed by three gestural strokes: blue on the head, yellow on the arms, and red on the legs. At the bottom are the legend “Barcelona ’92” and the Olympic rings.
The COOB’92 also chose several slogans to reinforce the Olympic message. In January 1991, the final slogan, “Friends forever,” was adopted, synthesizing the spirit of harmony of the Olympic Games.
Freddie Mercury Montserrat Caballe
The emblematic theme of the event was “Barcelona”, performed by Freddie Mercury and the soprano Montserrat Caballe. The Queen leader composed it in 1987 in honor of the diva. After being presented by both artists in a concert of the Cultural Olympiad, the British intended to defend it also in the opening ceremony. However, that was impossible because Mercury died prematurely in 1991. Barcelona was included in the official soundtrack and its chords were played at the lighting of the cauldron.
Barcelona Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, graphic designer, and musician of Parsi and Indian origin, best known for being the lead singer of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he has been recognized for his powerful voice and flamboyant stagings. As a composer, he wrote many of Queen’s hits, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Somebody to Love”, and “We Are the Champions”. In addition to the activity with the band, in the eighties, he launched his solo career, which led him to publish two albums, Mr. Bad Guy (1985) and Barcelona Album (1988). He died on November 24, 1991.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics became the international letter of introduction for democratic Spain. The country transmitted an image of dynamism and modernity that was decisive in breaking old stereotypes and presenting Spain as an advanced European country to international society.
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