On the eve of the climax of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, the ‘Match’ between the Defender Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record INEOS Britannia, Barcelona became the ‘Lighthouse to the World’ with a spectacular opening ceremony on Platja de Bogatell.
Aligned with the values and passion of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, the opening ceremony on the evening of Thursday, October 10th highlighted the power of sport, fused with art and culture as agents of change and engagement. This spectacular event heralded the crescendo of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, which is being held for the first time in Barcelona, and is an America’s Cup Legacy project supported by the America’s Cup Event and its partners, and the host institutions coordinated through the Fundació Barcelona Capital Nàutica.
October 10, 2024. Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Opening Ceremony.
This unprecedented show, broadcast worldwide to a truly international audience, featured stunning visual effects, including a spectacular drone show, laser constellations, LED screens, avatars and seas of light, all combined with beautiful soundtracks, musical performances and immersive symphonies, which took viewers on an emotional journey and captivated audiences around the world.
October 10, 2024. Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Opening Ceremony.
Albert Guinovart, composer and director of the soundtrack, has reflected on a simply stunning evening:
“We believe that the contrast between artists helps us to magnify the message of the show and reach a wide audience to identify with the image that Barcelona and Catalonia want to project to the world through the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.”
October 10, 2024. Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup, Opening Ceremony.
Barcelona, known for its innovation and culture, was the perfect setting for an event that fused technology, art and nature. The ceremony, inspired by the sea, wind and sailing, symbolized human ingenuity and collective effort, creating a narrative that promised to reconnect the public with the power of nature and the magic of maritime exploration.
Grant Dalton, CEO of America’s Cup Event, spoke about the ceremony:
“Our connection to Barcelona, its people, culture and identity resonated with the values we wanted to promote at the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup: sustainability, diversity, inclusion, technology and innovation. This concert was designed to showcase those values while competing with unforgettable memories of the 1992 Olympic Games opening ceremony, a memory etched in the minds of all who witnessed it. It was a fitting spectacle and a lasting legacy to what has been an incredible summer of sailing in Barcelona before the final ‘Match’ of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.
Leslie Ryan, Director of America’s Cup Events (ACE) Barcelona, expressed the significance of this special ceremony ahead of the climax of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup:
“Since we chose Barcelona as the venue, we have felt the unique energy that makes Barcelona such a special and iconic city on a global level. Fans from around the world have enjoyed a spectacular and memorable concert, which has highlighted the successful partnership between Barcelona and the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup.”
An estimated 60,000 people watched the free concert from the Platja de Bogatell and local beaches, and 800 people from the America’s Cup community watched from inside the America’s Cup Fanzone. The opening ceremony of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup was a memorable spectacle worthy of the oldest international sporting event: the America’s Cup, with 173 years of history.
The Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match between Emirates Team New Zealand and INEOS Britannia begins on Saturday, October 12th, when these two elite teams will meet on the waters off Barcelona in the first two races of the seven-point series.
