STORY: Athletic Bilbao celebrates Spanish Cup win in unique manner
SHOOTING TIME: April 11, 2024
DATELINE: April 13, 2024
LENGTH: 0:02:25
LOCATION: BILBAO, Spain
CATEGORY: SPORTS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the celebrations
2. various of the celebration of the Spanish Cup in 1984 with the "Gabarra" (file)
3. various of players taking a bus tour through the city into the night after the speeches from the balcony of the town hall

STORYLINE:

Spanish football club Athletic Bilbao celebrated Thursday their recent Copa del Rey victory by parading through the city of Bilbao on the historic "Gabarra" barge.

Accompanied by a flotilla of 100 boats, including traditional Basque rowing boats, the team sailed from the River Nervion through the city center, cheered on by over a million fans dressed in red and white.

The team, comprising solely of players born and raised within the Basque region of northern Spain, south-west France, and Navarre, was hailed for their historic win, breaking a 40-year Copa del Rey drought.

Their symbolic connection to the region and devoted fans was prominently displayed during the celebratory journey, culminating in a grand reception at the City Hall and the regional government building.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Bilbao, Spain.
(XHTV)