Athletic and the barge will unite several generations in a historic celebration
Euskaraz irakurri: Athleticek eta gabarrak zenbait belaunaldi elkartuko dituzte, ospakizun historiko batean
Bilbao and Bizkaia are preparing to experience a historic celebration this Thursday, for cup title conquered by Athletic last Saturday, in Seville, on board the bargesymbol of the successes of the red-and-white club, which will once again go up the Nervión estuary after 40 years. EITBthrough ETB1, ETB2 and eitb.eus, will broadcast it live, starting at 3:45 p.m.
The boat had become, in these four decades, an almost mythological object for several generations of athletics, who, after many disappointments and frustrated attempts to touch glory again, will finally be able to get excited and feel something firsthand. similar to what was experienced in 1983 and 1984.
It will be a colossal celebration in terms of number of participants, since it is estimated that around one million people will gather in the metropolitan area of Bilbao, especially on the banks of the estuary, to pay tribute to the lions.
He security “macro device” It will also be historic. More than 1,200 people will work in an operation coordinated by the Basque Emergency Assistance System, which will have 400 Ertzaintza agents and 200 local police officers. In addition, the General Administration of the State will contribute 15 boats and 100 members of the Civil Guard to the security device.
He will accompany the barge, during the ten kilometers of the route, a fleet of 160 boats, the maximum planned quota. Of them, 110 are individuals who, depending on their size, had to pay between 250 and 3,000 euros to be part of the delegation, in addition to 32 Biscayan trawlers and other organization boats intended to guarantee the security and order of the celebration.
The barge Athletic will go out for the third time to celebrate a great milestone
It will be the third time that the barge Athletic take the Athletic players after a title for the Biscayan team. The first, at the initiative of the then executive Cecilio Gerrikabeitia and of manager Fernando Otxoaresuming a celebration of Steel Club of Olabeaga in 1924It was carried out on May 3, 1983, after the League title of the 1982-83 season, won at the Insular stadium in Las Palmas.
One year later, the May 7, 1984the celebration was repeated, far exceeding forecasts, because, on that occasion, the million people who had gathered twelve months earlier around the great river artery of Bizkaia were exceeded.
The League and Cup titles of the troop led by Javier Clemente They left indelible moments and images, which will have a new chapter on Thursday in a great celebration that goes beyond football and reaches the pride of one’s own identity, the sense of belonging and a unique philosophy.
The champions of the 80s will be there, and I remember the deceased fans
On Wednesday evening, Athletic announced two initiatives full of symbolism. On the one hand, the rojiblanco club has reported that The team of players who rode on the barge in 1984 will accompany, from a boat that will also begin its voyage in the Abra, the barge on which the current team will be. Also, on Sunday, in the League match Athletic-Villarrealthe champions of the 1983 League and the 1984 League, Cup and Super Cup will participate, next to Villarrealin it hall of honor for the 2024 Cup champions
On the other hand, when the barge arrives, on its way up to Bilbao, at the height of San Mamés, it will make a stop; in it, with the aim of remember the Athletic fans who have died without being able to see the Biscayan team champion againthe players are going to throw into the water red and white rose petals.
A 64-year-old boat, “retired” since 2013
The barge has 64 years old. Was built in 1960in the shipyards Celaya, from Erandio, a few miles from its current location, which is the Itsasmuseum-Maritime Museum of Bilbao. It was commissioned by the currently called Port Authority, and was named No. 1.
Until May 1983, it was used, first, for the transfer and supply of coal to the dredges that worked in the estuaryand later, in the 80s, it was adapted to transport concrete blocks.
After the receptions of 1983 and 1984, the barge, already with its name Athleticcontinued to be used until his retirement, which came three decades later. On October 15, 2013, he crossed the estuary for the last timefrom Santurtzi to its final location, in the dry dock of the Bilbao Maritime Museum, on a last trip in which José Ángel Iribar was an honorary crew member.
Characteristics of the barge
It is a flat-keeled boat, without its own propulsion, built, as has been said, for the transport of goods. She has dimensions of 18.5 meters in length, 8.5 meters of beam, 1.7 meters of propa draft of 1.14 meters and a weight of 80 tons. In 2020, a rehabilitation plan was presented, with a cost of approximately 200,000 euros, which was paid entirely by Athletic; The process culminated in March 2021, with a buoyancy test over the estuary, successfully completed.
A holiday in the middle of the work week
The reception of the Cup champion Athletic will convert a working Thursday on a holiday in Bilbao and throughout Bizkaia. Several schools, the University of Deusto and even some companies have decided to suspend their activities for the afternoon. The reason given by the schools that have made this determination is to ensure the safety and movement of their students and their families; Difficulties are expected to circulate, as a result of the reception. The Guggenheim Museum, which is located next to the estuary, will also close earlier at 5:00 p.m.
More meters in the afternoon and service throughout the night
The recommendation for citizens is the use of public transportand, in that sense, Bilbao Metro will offer the usual service of a working day until 3:30 p.m., and, since then, will strengthen the service with trains every three minutes on the common trunk, every six minutes towards Ibarbengoa and Kabiezes, and every 18 minutes towards Plentzia. These schedules will remain stable until 10:30 p.m., when the frequencies will become 5, 10 and 20 minutes respectively in the different areas.
Metro Bilbao’s offer to cover the celebration will be completed with a uninterrupted service throughout Thursday night. Specifically, from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. on Friday, trains will run on both tracks, every 10 minutes on the common trunk and every 20 minutes towards Plentzia and Kabiezes.
Weather forecast: clear skies, sunshine and mild temperatures
The weather is also going to add to the party prepared in Bilbao and its surroundings. According to Euskalmet, the weather will be “very pleasant”; In the Abra area, at the departure of the barge, the temperature will be around 18-20 degrees, and when the boat arrives in Bilbao, around 6:30 p.m., the temperature will be 20-22 degrees. Low tide is expected at 1:15 p.m., and high tide at 7:27 p.m.
Athletic announces a photography contest about the celebration
As announced this Wednesday, Athletic has called, in an “express” manner, a photography contest, with the sole theme of the barge celebration. The contest is open to any person of legal age, amateur or professional, who must send the club, via email, a single photograph related to the celebration, in a JPG file with a minimum size of 2400×1600 pixels and a resolution of 300 dpi.
The deadline for receiving images is from April 11 to April 30, and the jury’s decision will be announced on May 7. The first prize of the contest is a double VIP experience in San Mamés at the Athletic-Osasuna match on May 12; the second, a “special edition Copa 2024″ t-shirt, dedicated and signed by the champion team”; and the third, two Club Athletic cards.
Barge itinerary and schedules:
16:30 Departure from the Real Club Marítimo del Abra de Getxo
16:50 Las Arenas (Getxo)/Portugalete. Bizkaia Bridge
17:10 Lamiako/Altos Hornos
17:30 Erandio/Sestao
17:45: Lutxana/Punta Zorrotza
18:00: Zorrotzaurre/Zorrotza shore
18:15 Deusto/Maritime Museum
18:30: Campo Volantín
18:35 Arrival at City Hall
18:40 Reception at Bilbao City Hall
19:40 Open bus ride from the Town Hall to the Provincial Council, passing through El Arenal, Plaza Circular and Gran Vía.
20:00 Reception at the Provincial Council of Bizkaia
Source: Eitb
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