Barcelona is once hoping to recreate the buzz of the 1992 Olympic Games with the European Athletics Championships, which open today, despite only 60 percent of tickets sold (read article in Castilian here, El Periodico). The city pulled out all the stops with a spectacular opening ceremony last night at the Font Màgica Fountain at the foot of the Montjuïc hill. Jordi Hereu, said yesterday, "Europeans will return to the sporting capital of Barcelona and recall the spirit of the '92 Games." He went on to add, "I am sure that the public will back this new sporting event." Until yesterday however, only 60 percent of the tickets had been sold. The stadium seating capacity has been reduced to 32,000 seats in order to concentrate the fans in a central position, with most of the tickets being sold to foreign fans. The organisation estimates around 40 percent of tickets sold are to people from outside Catalunya. Mayte Martínez, one of the stars of the Spanish team said in a bid to encourage local support, "Racing at home is very motivating, I hope the public gets behind the team and see how wonderful the sport can be." The city has invested €31 million to form sporting facilities, for instance the tracks at Mar Bella, Joan Serrahima, Pau Negre and Can Dragó which are being used for training purposes. It has estimated an immediate return of €42 million, according to a report from the Consorci Turisme de Barcelona, excluding the media profits, which will total around 1,000 hours of broadcast TV and reach more than 50 countries.