Olympic Games, from Barcelona to Paris, passing through Vallès Oriental
Last Friday, July 26, the inauguration of the 2024 Olympic Games took place in Paris. This sporting event, held every 4 years, has a mystique that is difficult to explain. And we can proudly say that in the region, in Vallès Oriental, we had the Olympic Games!
In 1992 the Olympic Games were in Barcelona. And as usual, not all sports competitions are held in the same city, but there are subsites. The Catalan capital was no exception, and this is where Vallès Oriental comes in!
Of the 16 Olympic subsites, 3 were in the region
If Granollers is famous for one sport in particular, it is handball. For this reason, the capital of Vallès Oriental was the venue where this sporting discipline was contested, except for the matches for the medals, which were at the Palau Sant Jordi.
Another city known in the country for a specific modality is Mollet del Vallès, with its Olympic shooting range. The 13 Olympic shooting events took place there, 7 men’s, 4 women’s and 2 mixed.
Finally, as also the region’s emblematic sports venue, the cycling test took place at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya from Montmeló. Specifically, the 100 kilometer time trial, which started in Vallès Oriental, went along the C-17 road to Avinguda Meridiana from Barcelona to make a half lap and finish again at the Circuit.
From Vallès Oriental to the Heaven of Olympus
The region has another relationship with these Olympic Games, and that is that there has always been an athlete who has competed from Vallès Oriental, and even won medals, at this international event.
A good example is handball player David Davis, born in Santa Maria de Palautordera. At the 2008 Beijing Games, with the Spanish team, he won the bronze medal, winning the match for third place against Croatia.
Another athlete who won bronze, this time in London 2012, was Laia Pons. The swimmer born in Granollers climbed to the podium in the synchronized swimming event, along with her 8 teammates.
A third example, which we hope will do just as well or even better, is golfer David Puig. From La Garriga, participates for the first time in a Olympic Games. We hope that this young athlete from the region will have a great debut in the biggest international sporting event.
And the most famous one at the end. Football player Alexia Putellas, from Mollet del Vallès, will defend the shirt of the Spanish national football team and will try to win the Olympic medal, a new title in her collective and individual record.
The colors of the Olympic Games in Vallès Oriental
Everyone easily identifies the Olympic Games logo with its colors: the 5 rings, blue, black, red, yellow and green. And this color palette can be found around Vallès Oriental.
- The blue of the thermal villages. The towns of Caldes de Montbui and La Garriga have thermal water, a unique distinguishing feature that we recommend you take advantage of.
- The black of the wheels. We have recently had a regional cycle tourism plan. We invite you to do our routes with your bikes.
- The red of commerce. For the more urbanites, you can enjoy the urban, cultural and commercial offer of the Vallès Oriental cities. Of course, if you walk down the street, don’t forget to put on sun cream, so you don’t get red!
- The yellow of the fields. If you have free time and want to see different landscapes, go along the paths of Vallès Oriental that retrace its bright yellow fields adorned with the characteristic straw bales.
- The green of the Natural Parks. Montseny Natural Park, Montnegre and the Corredor Park, Serralada de Marina Park, Serralada Litoral Park, PEIN Cingles de Bertí and PEIN Gallecs. 6 different options to walk and enjoy the green in unique environments.
The 5 colors of the Olympic rings give you 5 different options to get to know and enjoy Vallès Oriental at your own pace.
