AP PHOTOS: Human towers rise skyward in Spain's Catalonia as part of cultural pride

TARRAGONA, Spain (AP) — Dozens of people squeeze together, pressing as tight as they can get. The stronger the foundation they build, the less likely their human tower will collapse. As children and others climb, they create eight, nine, even 10 dizzying stories.

They tug on sashes wound around torsos, gritting their teeth to keep their backs straight and their legs from buckling. With maximum concentration, they look into each other’s eyes, seeking further support.

The tradition of building human towers, or “castells” in Catalan, dates to the 18th century and forms an essential part of Catalonia’s culture. “Colles,” or human tower troupes, compete to build the tallest and most complicated towers at festivals often held in village squares across the region in northeastern Spain.

For many Catalans, the towers symbolize the pride they feel for their land, language and history. It means they are in it together and, if united, they are capable of amazing feats.

As the tower goes up, the ages come down. Graying hair, receding hairlines and the burliest bodies are seen on the ground floor. The increasingly nimble are tasked with creating the final stages. Young men and women, then teenagers, then children ascend in a spidery climb, their arms interlocked, to the very top.

The smallest boy or girl, as young as 5 years old, crowns the tower, reaching some 16 meters high (52 feet). Then, as collective strength wavers, the tower often sways. It undoes itself, with each level sliding down the backs of lower ones.

Or the tower crashes on the heads and shoulders below. Injuries aren't common, and children wear helmets.

Every two years, the most important competition for human towers is held in Tarragona, an old Roman city on the Mediterranean coast. The “Concurs de Castells” started in 1932. It now invites the 42 best teams to compete.

Newcomers and foreigners alike now take part in this practice that's included in UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Tomoko Sakamoto is from Japan. She, her husband and their two children participate in a human tower troupe.

“It’s changed my life,” she said. “I am part of Catalan culture and I am proud.”

Iain Sullivan in Madrid and Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed.

The torn shirt of an assistant is photographed after completing a "Castellers" or human tower during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Castellers de Vilafranca" celebrate after completing a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls" fall as they try to form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Castellers de Lleida" celebrate after successfully completing a "castells" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Juan Antonio Rodriguez, 72, reacts after performing next to members of "Castellers de Vilafranca" completing a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Sagals d'Osona" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Assistants react as members of "Castellers de Vilafranca" try to form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Colla Jove de Tarragona" fall before completing a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Valeria, 11, reacts after climbing to the top of a "castell" or human tower during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Member of "Castellers de Vilafranca" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls" react as they form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Castellers de la Vila de Gracia" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Assistants look as members of "Castellers Jove de Barcelona" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Colla Jove de Tarragona" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Assistants look as members of a "Castellers" form a human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Moixiganguers d'Igualada" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Castellers de Sant Cugat" react after successfully completing their "Castell", during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Members of "Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls" form a "Castell" or human tower, during the 29th Human Tower Competition in Tarragona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs starter Jameson Taillon thinks he'll end up on the injured list after he left Chicago's 2-1, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday night with a strained left hamstring.

Taillon walked Matt Chapman to lead off the second with Chicago trailing 1-0. Then, the Cubs training staff and manager Craig Counsell came to the mound to talk to the right-hander. After a brief discussion, Taillon walked to the dugout and was replaced by righty Javier Assad, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

“I don't think it's crazy,” said Taillon, who'll have an MRI on Monday. “Like, I'm walking around and moving around. Obviously, it will be an IL stint, but hopefully we can keep the arm conditioned and moving around. I don't think it's surgical or anything like that.”

Taillon said he first felt discomfort in the hamstring after throwing an inside changeup to Chapman that made the count 2-2 in the at-bat.

“And then kind of in-between pitches, I was kind of trying to weigh whether I should throw another pitch or not, then threw the 3-2 pitch and kind of felt it a little more,” Taillon said. “Nothing I've ever felt. Unfortunately, just kind of one pitch did it.”

Taillon allowed a run in the first inning Sunday on a walk followed by two singles, pushing his ERA to 5.19. He entered the game 2-5 and had lost four straight decisions over his previous five starts.

Assad followed with 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, along with a walk and a hit batter. He retired the final 12 Giants hitters he faced.

San Francisco won it in the 10th when Chapman singled in automatic runner Jonah Cox. The Giants won for the fourth time in their last five games and handed Chicago its 20th loss in 27.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, June 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)