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Barcelona (1992)

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Barcelona (1992)

Money isn't the only way to measure success, and many host cities are willing to swallow the debt in hopes of achieving the "Barcelona effect." The Spanish city took on a $1.4 billion dollar deficit after hosting the 1992 Olympics, but it successfully carried through a large-scale restoration initiative and put itself on the map as a major tourist destination. The attention brought by the Games as well as the city's investment in projects such as improving public transportation helped Barcelona increase its European tourism; it now ranks among the most visited cities in the world.