Hosting the Olympic games in your city is a pretty big deal, and Barcelona used this opportunity to rebrand and change their city entirely. I applaud the committee who was in charge of the publicity for the games because they were able to put Barcelona on the map. Everything from the remolding of the city, to the placement of the camera was strategically planned. There goal was to showcase the beauty of Barcelona to the world, and they had the perfect outlet to do so. They made sure that the Olympic Village was right on the beach to swoon the athletes, they made sure the Olympic pool was built on top of a hill so it would overlook the city, they made sure that everyone watching at home would be able to catch a glimpse of what Barcelona beauty on their television screens. And they definitely accomplished their goals because tourism after the Olympic Games skyrocketed. Barcelona is now one of the most visited cities in Europe.
This success story however is a bittersweet victory for the locals of Barcelona. They love the story of the underdog but hate that the never ending victory. The the streets are flooded with people throughout the entire year, tourism season never seems to end. I guess success really can kill because those who once called Barcelona home are leaving because of the tourist. Nonetheless, this was a great campaign. Twenty-five years later and people still see Barcelona as one of the best destination spots in the world.
