Barcelona.cat

The Barnatresc Olympic Walk, scheduled for Saturday 4 May, has been given a charitable and environmental twist this year by joining the Healthy Cities programme, an initiative launched by Sanitas in 2015. The aim is to encourage physical activity while at the same time helping to create new green spaces in the cities taking part.

In this edition, Barcelona is joining a collective challenge that involves each person walking a minimum of 6,000 steps, with a very clear reward in sight: for every participant who successfully completes the challenge, using the Healthy Cities app to record their activity, Sanitas will donate funds to support the planting of new trees in two iconic areas of the city. The first initiative will focus on the area around Plaça Gaudí, where a dozen large trees will be planted, with maintenance guaranteed for four years.

What’s more, the steps recorded up until 30 June will continue to count towards unlocking a second greening project: the planting and maintenance of around 20 more trees on C/ Nau de Santa Maria, in the Sant Martí district.

A walk underpinned by values

The day will start and finish at Parc Joan Miró, the usual starting point in this edition of Barnatresc. It will be open to all and free of charge, like all the other activities in the cycle. As well as promoting a healthy lifestyle, the initiative is an invitation to rediscover the city on foot, avoiding the busiest routes and encouraging more direct contact with the local area.

A nationwide initiative

With more than ten years of experience, this year the Healthy Cities programme is being rolled out in other cities such as Madrid, Bilbao and Zaragoza, highlighting collective efforts to transform cities into healthier, greener and more liveable places.

With this challenge, Barcelona is reaffirming its commitment to urban sustainability and sport for all, consolidating Barnatresc as a space where health, the local environment and social values go hand in hand.