IN MADRID – Activists in Barcelona are planning protests against the America’s Cup yacht race that began in the city on Thursday, branding the event “elitist and opaque” amid a summer of anti-tourism sentiment in Spain.

Critics claim that the world’s oldest international sporting event, which runs until October 27, will put even more pressure on the Spanish city in its fight against over-tourism.

Martí Cuso of the platform against the America’s Cup said the yacht race was “elitist and opaque” and demonstrations were planned for next month.

“This is not like the Olympics, where people are interested in the sport. This is only for rich people who can afford to go out to sea in their own boats and look at the yachts,” he said. I.

Mr Cuso, one of the organisers of an anti-overtourism demonstration in Barcelona in July in which holidaymakers were sprayed with water pistols, said the yachts were sponsored by luxury brands wanting to use Barcelona to promote their products.

“Many of the people involved in the election campaign have signed long-term leases for apartments in the city center and have driven up prices for residents. There will be protests in the first week of September.”

“Despite claims that it will bring financial benefits to the city, we have not seen any independent reports of actual benefits.”

The race is sponsored by Louis Vuitton, a luxury brand that held a fashion show in May at Park Güell, one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions designed by architect Antoni Gaudí.

The star-studded fashion show was marked by clashes between police and activists who claimed the city was selling its cultural heritage to elite brands.

In June, a week-long Formula 1 festival saw a small demonstration by protesters who felt the festival was inappropriate in a city that is trying to limit car use while struggling with high levels of air pollution.

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Laia Serra, also a member of the platform against the America’s Cup, said the yacht race would attract more tourists and put a strain on Barcelona’s limited resources.

However, Jaume Collboni, the Socialist mayor of Barcelona, ​​said the competition would bring in €1.2 billion (£1.02 billion) in revenue for the city and create jobs.

In response to claims that the competition would bring more tourists to the crowded city, he said most hotel reservations were made for the period after the end of the competition in October, after the peak holiday season.

In 2023, 12 million tourists visited Barcelona, ​​a city of 1.5 million inhabitants, making it the most popular tourist destination in Spain. The British were the second largest group of visitors.

“The great legacy that the Cup will bring to Barcelona is the recovery of the coast,” he said The Periodical Newspaper.

At the start of the event, a major security operation was launched. 650 police officers were deployed, six boats patrolled the sea and a helicopter flew over Barcelona.

The Guardia Civil said it was also deploying divers to increase security around the multi-million pound event.

Emirates Team New Zealand are the defending champions and will be challenged by boats from the Ineos team from Great Britain.

There are also teams from Italy, Switzerland, France and the USA. The teams began setting up their bases in Port Vell, the city’s old port, over a year ago.

There have already been a number of demonstrations against the America’s Cup.

A spokesman for the America’s Cup did not respond to a request for comment from I.

The America’s Cup, first held on the Isle of Wight in 1851, is considered the oldest international sporting event in the world. It was last held in Auckland, New Zealand, in 2021 and was won by the host country.