One year on from America's Cup: investments 'slow' with no 'substantial' changes in Barceloneta

One year on from the America's Cup international sailing competition, held in Barcelona, residents of the neighbourhood of La Barceloneta recall the event with suspicion, and demand that investments promised be carried out. 

Some investment projects that were promised by authorities were were already "historical demands" of the locals, as Manel Martínez, spokesperson for the Barceloneta Residents' Association, explained to the Catalan News Agency (ACN).

He points to the renovation of the old '20th Century Cooperative' building, or the expansion of the local nursery school; both projects that were signalled by the locals for long before the sailing competition arrived on their shores, but which are finally now receiving a boost. 

He admits that the investments are "slow," but nevertheless he is satisfied that after 10 years without any "real" investment in the neighbourhood, residents are now being listened to.

For her part, Esther Jorquera, a neighbour and spokesperson for the 'No to the America's Cup' platform, termed the promises as "deception," and assured there have been no "substantial" change in the area.

Both point out that the leftovers of the event is still visible in the seaside neighbourhood, as there are two bases of teams that competed, those of the British and Swiss teams, still standing.

Additionally, the image of the America's Cup printed on what was the America's Cup Experience museum in Maremagnum is also still visible from the outside.

"They haven't taken down the screens, they haven't taken down the posters, they haven't taken down anything," said Jorquera, who regrets that it has been "stuck."

"I don't understand it," said Martínez, who, considering that they are placed in "strategic locations," could provide another benefit to the locals and the nautical community based here.