Montjuïc Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium
Barcelona Olympic Stadium & concert venue in Montjuïc mountain. Visit the Stadium. Montjuïc Grand Prix history
About Montjuïc Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium
The Barcelona Olympic Stadium,
Montjuïc Olympic Stadium History
1929 Barcelona International Exposition
The first incarnation of a Staduim in Montjuïc was built by Pere Domènech i Roura for the 1929 World Exhibition where Montjuïc was the venue for various event halls.
The idea behind building a stadium for the 1929 world Expo was to re use it several years later for the 1936 Summer Olympics. This plan did not work out because of the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War from 1936 to 1939. The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin.
At the End of the Spanish Civil War, Spain became a dictatorship under General Franscisco Franco And the presdent of Catalunya was Held prisoner in Montjuïc Castle. On the 15th October 1940, the Francoist Regime Executed Lluís Companys by firing squad.
In the 1950s, Montjuïc stadium was the centerpiece of the 1955 Mediterranean Games, and in 1957 it hosted the only national football cup Final between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, the two local clubs.
1968 to 1982 Spanish Grand Prix and Motorsport
In the 1970s, Montjuïc stadium was disused, and the stands deteriorated and the stadium was used as a paddock for the Spainish Grand Prix.
In 1968, Montjuïc was selected as the venue for the Spanish Grand Prix, which had previously been held at the Jarama circuit in Madrid. The First Montjuïc Grand Prix was on 4 May 1969. The hilly anticlockwise 3.7 Km course had one half slow and the other very fast, making set up of the cars a challenge.
The 1975 Spanish Grand Prix was a tragedy. Many drivers felt that the circuit was unsafe. Two time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi declined to take part. On lap 26 the Embassy Hill-Lola car of Rolf Stommelen left the track, killing four people.
The circuit of Montjuïc was also the scene of the 24 hours of Montjuïc, a motorcycle endurance race from 1960 to 1982.
Montjuïc Motor Racing Circuit Overlayed on a Modern Map of Montjuïc
Since 1991, the Spanish Grand Prix has been Held at the Montmelo Racing circuit, about 30 minutes outside of Barcelona.
1992 Summer Olympic Games & RCD Espanyol
The stadium was extensively remodeled for the 1992 Olympic Games with only the façade being preserved. It was renamed Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The Montjuïc stadium was the home of football club RCD Espanyol from 1997 until 2009 until they moved to the new stadium in Cornella de Llobregat.
The Montjuïc stadium is currently the provisional home of FCB Barcelona while the Camp Nou stadium is being rebuilt. The stadium is also used for summer concerts by large bands.
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