Barcelona had become grey, boring and industrial during the dictatorship. But there was a desire for change, and when Barcelona was given the organization of the 1992 Olympics, the door opened, and the locals were euphoric at the opportunity. I was 10 years old at the time, and the memories of the extreme joy at hearing Samaranch say “A la ville de… Barcelona!”, still gives me the chills just like I’m sure it does to anyone of my generation and older.
