Alcobendas hosts the Climbing World Cup starting this Thursday, an event bringing together figures such as Oriane Bertone and Soratu Anraku. However, the shadow of a boycott looms over the competition. Pro-Palestinian organizations, such as BDS Spain, denounce the participation of Israeli athletes like Ayala Kerem, alleging that their presence whitewashes the Israeli government and that the federation collaborates with the occupation of Palestinian territory.
State-of-the-art holds and height safety 🧗
The competition takes place on 15-meter walls with holds designed by international route setters, made from high-density polyurethane resin. The safety system uses dynamic harnesses and 10.5 mm ropes with UIAA certification, capable of withstanding factor 2 falls. The anchors on the metal structure support loads of up to 22 kN. The federation has installed impact sensors in the fall zones to monitor athlete safety during bouldering.
The hardest hold: dodging the political boycott ⚖️
While climbers face volumes angled at 45 degrees, organizers deal with an even trickier route: political pressure. It seems some prefer to climb the wall of controversy rather than the one in Alcobendas. Of course, no one has called for boycotting the food in the landing zone, which remains the true magnet for athletes after four days of grips and locks.