This Monday, King Felipe VI gathered a diverse mix of figures from politics, business, and sport for a public event in Barcelona. At the symbolic Albéniz Palace in the Catalan capital, he held a round of conversations with Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, marking a moment when the City Council restored formal ties with the Crown after a long interruption that dated back to 2006, when the then-reigning King Emeritus Juan Carlos I was in office. The exchange underscored a renewed sense of institutional normalcy between the municipality and the Crown, a milestone welcomed by many who watched the city’s leadership and national representatives come together in a spirit of collaboration and shared purpose.
The SEAT Executive Committee, led by CEO Wayne Griffiths, also attended at the Albéniz Palace. The delegation conveyed updates on the Future: Fast Forward initiative, a bold program designed to position Spain as a leading European hub for electric mobility. The project reflects a broader effort to align industry, transportation, and innovation policies in ways that benefit workers, consumers, and regional economies across the country.
The King, renowned for his sailing passion, greeted Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Events and Emirates Team New Zealand. Dalton joined the royal audience after participating in the initial races of the 37th America’s Cup, held recently in Vilanova i la Geltrú. The event’s momentum points toward a high-profile summer in which Barcelona is slated to host the Copa América, one of the world’s most widely watched sailing competitions after the Olympics and the Football World Cup. The meeting highlighted the city’s role as a growing stage for elite sport and international spectatorship.
Dalton was accompanied by Aurora Catà, vice president of ACE Barcelona, and the gathering drew attention to the possibility of positioning Barcelona as the venue for the next edition of America’s Cup in 2024. The discourse also touched on other marquee events—Ryder Cup, Tour de France, and the celebratory unity around America’s Cup initiatives in the Catalan capital. The overarching aim is to establish Barcelona as a premier host city for major international competitions, including forums like the Final Four of Euroleague basketball, thereby reinforcing its status as a global events hub.
The America’s Cup is celebrated not only for its sport but also for merging cutting-edge technology with top-tier performance. Barcelona, a city known for its forward-thinking approach, is poised to leverage this opportunity to promote its image on a worldwide stage, showcasing innovation, culture, and urban vitality. The King also acknowledged the achievements of Spanish teams competing in international sports, spotlighting the Fukuoka 2023 World Swimming Championships and the national squads in artistic swimming as well as men’s and women’s water polo. This emphasis reflects a continued commitment from the Crown to strengthen the country’s presence in global sports and to inspire young athletes across Spain.