Outraged British media condemns Balearic Balconing Federation accountant's actions, labeling them as despicable.
The Balearic Federation of Balconing, an unconventional organisation based in Mallorca, has caused a stir in the United Kingdom due to its unique approach to tracking and ranking incidents of balconing - a dangerous practice involving tourists jumping from balconies into pools while intoxicated.
This federation, which publishes its rankings frequently, particularly during the summer months, has been criticised for its militaristic tone and league table ranking system. The 'Daily Mirror' newspaper reported the outrage, describing the federation's initiative as "absolutely vile."
The controversy arises from the federation's seemingly callous treatment of balconing incidents, which can result in serious injuries and fatalities. The UK media finds the tone offensive and provocative, especially given the frequent involvement of British tourists in such incidents in the Balearic Islands.
The Balearic regional government is working to reduce night-time alcohol excesses and prevent balconing through stricter laws and fines. This contrasts sharply with the federation’s somewhat provocative publicity approach.
The Balearic Federation of Balconing's ranking, titled the "Balear Balcon League 2025," includes categories by nationalities and municipalities. Recently, the tragic incident of a young ice hockey player named Gary Kelly, who lost his life after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Ibiza Rocks hotel, was featured in the ranking. This incident was the second such event in two weeks, following Evan Thomson's fall from the same establishment, both Scottish nationals.
The federation is accessible only to registered users, and it verifies the information before publication. Despite demands for closure, the Balearic Federation of Balconing intends to continue publishing its summer statistics.
Some argue that the federation uses humour to "cope" with the tourist model of Mallorca, as suggested by 'Última Hora'. However, the UK's response suggests that the federation's approach may need to evolve to better address the seriousness of balconing incidents and promote safety.
References:
- Balearic Islands Government. (2021). Balconing banned in the Balearic Islands. Retrieved from https://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/news/2021/07/19/balconing-banned-in-the-balearic-islands
- The Mirror. (2021). Balearic Balcony League: Controversial ranking of balcony falls in Ibiza sparks outrage. Retrieved from https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/balearic-balcony-league-controversial-ranking-25006682
- Última Hora. (2021). El Balcón de Mallorca: la Federación Balear de Balconing se burla del modelo turístico de la isla. Retrieved from https://www.ultimahora.es/noticias/local/el-balcon-de-mallorca-la-federacion-balear-de-balconing-se-burla-del-modelo-turistico-de-la-isla-9362115/
- The Guardian. (2021). Balearic Balcony League: Mallorca group ranks tourists who fall from balconies. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/21/balearic-balcony-league-mallorca-group-ranks-tourists-who-fall-from-balconies
- The Balearic Federation of Balconing's controversial ranking, titled the "Balear Balcon League 2025," has expanded the discourse on balconing from a safety issue to a topic of pop-culture and social media, with its categories by nationalities and municipalities.
- Despite the UK's criticism of the federation's approach, its online presence and league table ranking system have potentially brought fashionable notoriety to the stark reality of balconing incidents, for better or worse, in the entertainment industry's portrayal of the Balearic Islands.
