Argentine Sports: Sports, clubs, tournaments

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SPORT IN ARGENTINA

Argentine Sport History

If history were a summation of dates and synoptic charts, we could search for the datum indicating the day when, for the first time in these lands so far away from the "civilized" centers, a competition was held for something more serious and less tragic than a military battle.

Fortunately, once again we realize that sports, their history, their competitive level and their place in the scale of social values become a symptom of what is happening, of life in that society. Argentina is almost 180 years old, but its institutional organization is still more recent. Sportive activities began to be institutionalized in the late 19th century.

Football. Lobos Athletic Club. Late 19th century

It is not by mere chance that, under the economic influence of the period, the first clubs and federations created were those of rugby, soccer and tennis. All of them very British, either due to the railway workers or to the bosses and owners, for whom the gauchos' native skills on their horses was not enough.

From then on, they are divided according to their social origin and soccer becomes the first popular phenomenon that finally broke out with the results in the Olympic Games and the World Cups. Sports like basketball, different sorts of ball sports, car racing, cycling and boxing make a second group, far removed from high competition and masses.

Rugby. CASI Team, Winner of the 1920 Championship

Left: Boxing. José María Gatica Beats A. Prada on points 1948.
Center: Rugby. Pacífico beat Olivos.1948.
Right: Football. Independiente beats Boca. 1948.

The moment of glory for Argentine sports could be placed in the decade following the Second World War. The comparative living standards as regards the rest of the world were the best; the economic possibilities and the political use of the results achieved represented a boost to investment in sports.
At the same time, the first disputes as to concealed professionalism arise and several generations of great sporstmen are punished because of alleged benefits.

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Daniel Jacubovich

Cultural Identity
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