Barcelona took its first leap towards this year’s major equestrian event with the unveiling of the winning design of the A Jump for the City competition. The presentation took place at the iconic Tibidabo viewpoint and served as a symbolic starting point for CSIO Barcelona 2025, which will be held from 2 to 5 October at the Real Club de Polo.
The new jump, which will make its debut during the tournament, will be part of the course for the Longines League of Nations FinalTM, the most prestigious team competition in the international show jumping calendar.
Inspired by one of the city’s most magical and recognisable landmarks, the design not only highlights the connection between the event and Barcelona but also reflects how sport, creativity and culture can come together in the same space.
The contest, promoted by the Barcelona Equestrian Challenge (BECH) and CSIO Barcelona, is celebrating its 11th edition this year. Its aim is to bring show jumping closer to the public while projecting the image of Barcelona to the world through a unique obstacle that becomes part of the competition’s courses.
This year, the winning design was created by a group of students from the Escola Massana. Their proposal, inspired by Tibidabo, features such iconic elements as the Ferris wheel, the temple and the historic red airplane.
Since its creation in 2012, the competition has paid tribute to various symbols of the city — from the Sagrada Família to the panot paving tile — consolidating its reputation as a benchmark for the fusion of sport, art and local heritage.
At the presentation, Susana Closa, Manager of the Barcelona Sports Institute, stated: “Every time we present a CSIO Barcelona obstacle, we can see how our city shines through it. It is a source of pride that this bond with the city, which represents us, is continuously sought.”
The event also featured remarks from Luis Comas, President of the RCPB Foundation, who emphasised: “Tibidabo is one of the city’s most emblematic sites and we share many things with it, such as being pioneers. Tibidabo is the oldest amusement park in Spain, and we organise the oldest international sporting event. Together we project a great image to the world.”
Representing Tibidabo was Odin Abkarovits, Head of the Operations Unit, while the Real Club de Polo and CSIO Barcelona were represented by their presidents, Pablo Sánchez Marquiegui and Santiago Mercé, along with the event’s director, Daniel García Giró. Professors Jaume Mendieta and Carles Mateos also attended on behalf of the Escola Massana.
