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Sport has an important incidence in Catalan life since the beginning of the 20th century. The main sports inCatalonia arefootball,basketball,handball,rink hockey,tennis, andmotorsport.
One of the main sport events held ever in Catalonia were the1992 Summer Olympics inBarcelona.
Most of the Catalan Sports Federations have a lot of tradition and some of them participated in the foundation of International Sports Federations, as the Catalan Federation of Rugby, that was one of the founder members of theFédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA) in 1934.[1]
Catalonia has officially recognised national teams in some sports competing in world and European championships as Catalonia, but in most sportsCatalan sportspeople compete within Spanish national teams. The presence of Catalan national teams at international level has often met with opposition from the Spanish State, as happened in 2004 toroller hockey, known as theFresno Case (seeRink hockey section below).
The best Catalan teams use to participate in European competitions.
Football is considered the most important sport in Catalonia and was introduced in the late 19th century by a combination of British immigrant workers, visiting sailors and students returning from Britain.
Catalonia also began to produce a number of football clubs includingPalamós Foot-Ball Club founded in 1898 andCatalà FC andFoot-Ball Club Barcelona, both founded in 1899.[2] Soon there were enough clubs to organize a league and in December 1900, Alfonso Macaya, the president ofHispania AC, offered a trophy,Copa Macaya, that eventually evolved into theCatalonia championships that were played until 1940, when they were disbanded during Franco's dictatorship.[2]
Today, football in Catalonia is organized by theCatalonia Football Federation, founded in 1903, and teams from Catalonia compete inLa Liga, theCopa del Rey, theCopa Catalunya and several European competitions as theUEFA Champions League and theUEFA Europa League.
The biggest clubs areFC Barcelona, which has won 5European Champions leagues, 4UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, andRCD Espanyol, which has been twice runner-up of theUEFA Cup. Both play inLa Liga.
TheCatalonia national team's first match was in 1912 in Paris, againstFrance. In the recent years they have played withArgentina,Brazil,Basque Country andColombia.
Basketball was played for the first time in Catalonia in 1913, in the school Vallparadís ofTerrassa, encouraged by Alexandre Galí and Artur Martorell. After the First World War the Frenchman Emile Tiberghien incorporated the basketball in his gym in Barcelona. Despite these early experiences, it is commonly accepted that basketball was introduced in Catalonia in 1922 by Father Eusebi Millan when organized the first team in the School "Escoles Pies de St. Anton" in Barcelona.
That year, 1922, was born the first club in Catalonia, the Basketball-Ball Laietà Club (now Club Esportiu Laietà). In those days, basketball was developed mainly through the educational centers and associations of popular and Catholic character. The first game is played in the field ofCE Europa on 8 December 1922, with a final scoreboard: Europa 8-Laietà 2.
On 15 April 1923 began the first Catalan Basketball Championship that was played until 1957 (except the period of the Civil War). It was undoubtedly the most important competition held in Catalonia before the birth of theSpanish league.
Since 1980 the Catalan Basketball Federation organizes a newCatalan basketball league, played by the best Catalan teams of theACB league.
FC Barcelona Bàsquet (2Euroleagues) andJoventut Badalona (1Euroleague) are the most successfulCatalan basketball teams. SomeCatalan players are or have been playing in theNBA, asPau Gasol,Raúl López,Juan Carlos Navarro,Marc Gasol andRicky Rubio.
In 1941 were played the first handball matches in Catalonia and one year later was founded a Handball Federation in Catalonia. Then handball was developed over Catalonia, increasing the number of teams every year, being 80 clubs in 1958.Barcelona held the first European Clubs Cup in 1958, a competition ideated by the French Federation.
For the decades of 40's and 50's some handball competitions were held with 11 players, like the Catalonia Championships. But finally the 7 players game was the one that continued.
During the 80's and 90's decades the Catalan Federation organized theCatalan league, played by the best Catalan clubs. In 1997 was replaced by thePirenees league adding teams from the south of France and the coorganization of the Ligue Languedoc Roussillon. FC Barcelona is the team that has won more times both competitions.
FC Barcelona is one of the best clubs of Europe, with 8EHF Champions Leagues, 5EHF Cup Winners' Cups, 18Liga ASOBAL, 12Catalan Leagues, 12Pirenees leagues, and several more cups.BM Granollers is the other historical Catalan handball club that plays in theLiga ASOBAL.
Enric Masip is one of the best Catalan players ever, with 6EHF Champions Leagues, 2EHF Cup Winners' Cups and 7ASOBAL leagues.
The firstrink hockey match played in Catalonia was in 1915 with the Indian Hoquei Club and the Sport Hoquei Club, but it were only the preliminaries. In 1925 some matches were played regularly and in 1928 was founded the Catalan Federation. The first Catalonia's Championship was played in 1930 and began a full developing for the sport around Catalonia.
The most successful teams areFC Barcelona, with 19European League Championships,Reus Deportiu with 7 andIgualada HC with 6. They play in theOK Liga.
In the1992 Summer Olympics, held inBarcelona,Roller hockey was one of threedemonstration sports included in theofficial Olympic programme. This sport's widespread popularity and the existence of top-level competitive teams in Catalonia (such asFC Barcelona andReus Deportiu) prompted the Organizing Committee to suggest its inclusion in the Olympic programme.
In 2004 the Federació Catalana de Patinatge was admitted by theInternational Roller Sports Federation (FIRS) as a provisional member, and as such it took part in the2004 Rink Hockey World Championship B in Macau.Catalonia national team won all its matches and was crowned as2004 B's World Champions[3] and gained the right to be in the2005 Rink Hockey World Championship. But in the following FIRS congress, in Fresno, the official recognition was revoked because of the opposition of the Spanish federation, in an assembly full of irregularities as theCourt of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled.[4] in the case known as theFresno Case. A new assembly was thus held in Rome, as the CAS verdict had decided, and Catalonia's application was rejected again. Because of this decision, Catalonia could not participate in the 2005 World Championship,[5] that finally was won by Spain, with a team composed by all the players from Catalonia.
Since 2004, Catalonia national teams have competed in theBlanes Golden Cup with other national teams, winning the trophy six times by the men's team[6] and three times by the ladies team.[7]
In 2006 the Catalan roller skating Federation was admitted to theSouth American Rink Hockey Confederation and nowadays plays in theSouth American Championships.[8][9] In 2010, the Catalonia men's team won the Copa América,[10] and in 2011 thewomen's national team won also the competition.[11]
Motorsport has a long tradition in Catalonia involving many people, with some world champions and several competitions organized since the beginning of the 20th century. TheCircuit de Catalunya, built in 1991, is one of the main motorsport venues, holding theCatalan motorcycle Grand Prix, theSpanish F1 Grand Prix, aDTM race, and several other races. Also of note is theMontjuïc street circuit which regularly hosted the Spanish F1 and motorcycle Grands Prix up to the 1970s.
Motorcycling is one of the historical sports, withmotorcycle road racingworld champions asÀlex Crivillé,Sito Pons,Emilio Alzamora andDani Pedrosa. In additionSete Gibernau was one of the top Grand Prix riders in the first half of the 2000s. Also there are many Catalan Motorcycle manufacturers asDerbi,Bultaco,Gas Gas,Montesa andOSSA.
Motorcycle trials is also a sport practiced by many Catalans, as the world championsJordi Tarrés (7 times),Adam Raga (6 times),Toni Bou (10 times) andLaia Sanz (11 times), and many competitions are organized around the country.
Rallies have several Catalan motorcycle champions asNani Roma (1Dakar Rally),Marc Coma (3 Rally Dakar and 3 times rallies cross country world champion),Jordi Arcarons (4 times runner-up in the Dakar Rally) and recentlyLaia Sanz (First Female CategoryDakar Rally 2011). In car rallies, theRally Catalunya is one of the races of theWorld Rally Championship since 1991. The first edition of Rally Catalunya was in 1957.
Tennis began to be practiced in Catalonia in the late 19th century, in cities such asBarcelona orReus, by some British people established in Catalonia and members of the Catalan bourgeoisie.
In 1904 was founded the Lawn Tennis Association of Barcelona, who joined as a full member in the Lawn Tennis Association (the international federation in those days). Later, in 1913, it was transformed into Lawn Tennis Association of Catalonia. In 1917 was played the first Catalan Tennis Championship. In all these tournaments, the Barcelona LT was an important organizer.
In 1923 was played the first Indoor World Championship in Barcelona.
Some Catalan players have wonRoland Garros:Sergi Bruguera (1993, 1994),Albert Costa (2002) andArantxa Sánchez Vicario (1989, 1994, 1998);US Open:Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (1994), and theMasters Cup:Àlex Corretja (1998). And also some medals have been won by Catalan tennis players in the Olympic Games:Jordi Arrese, silver in 1992,Sergi Bruguera, silver in 1996,Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, silver in 1996 and silver in 1992 in doubles.
The main tournament isTorneo Godó, held in Barcelona on clay surface.
Korfball has been played in Catalonia since 1982, and is managed by the Catalan Korfball Federation (FCK).
In 1997 theInternational Korfball Federation admitted the Catalan Federation of Korfball as a provisional member, and in 2005 it was granted full membership.[12]
Catalonia's national team has played 4World Championships,[13] reaching the 4th place in 2011,[14] 3European Championships -with a 5th place in 2010[15] and a 6th place in 2006-[16] and has won the2005 Korfball European Bowl.
The Catalan competition is divided into a "First division" and 2 "Second divisions" with a number of teams such asC.K. Vacarisses, C.E. Vilanova i la Geltrú,C.K. Assessoria Vallparadís, C.K. Cerdanyola, C.K. Badalona – La Rotllana, Sant Llorenç K.C.,Unió Korfbalera Sant Adrià de Besòs,K.C. Barcelona, C.K. Castellbisbal, K.E.C.A., Korfball Valldemia and A.A.E.I.E.S. Secretari Coloma de Barcelona.
Club Korfball Vallparadís has won 2Europa Shields, in 2009[17] and 2011.[18]
Pitch and putt is played in Catalonia since the "1980s" when Martin Withelaw build a course in Solius (Santa Cristina d'Aro,Girona). The interest on Pitch and putt has been growing since then, with more than 14,000 players in 2008 associated to Catalan Federation of Pitch and Putt (FCPP), and more than 30 courses.
In 1999 the "Associació Catalana de Pitch and putt" was one of the founders of theEuropean Pitch and Putt Association,[19] the governing body that develops pitch and putt in Europe and stages a biennialEuropean Team Championships, which Catalonia won in 2010[20] and has reached the second place three times.[21]
In 2006 the "Federació Catalana de Pitch and putt" participated in the creation of theFederation of International Pitch and Putt Associations (FIPPA), that stages aWorld Cup, that Catalonia has won twice (2004 and2006)[22][23]
Futsal in Catalonia is managed by Catalonia Futsal Federation (FCFS) (Federació Catalana de Futbol Sala), affiliated toEuropean Union of Futsal in 2004[24] and recognised by theWorld Futsal association (AMF) in 2006.[25] And it's also managed byCatalonia Football Federation (FCF) for the teams that play the FIFA game.
Catalonia national futsal teams represent Catalonia in AMF World Cups and UEFS Futsal Championships.
Catalonia men's national team has played five times theUEFS European Championships, reaching the second place in2006, and twice inAMF Futsal World Cup, in2007 and2011. Also played in the 2007 AMF World Tournament inYakutia, with the sixth place.
Catalonia women's national team were the Champions in the firstWomen's World Championship, held inReus in 2008.[26] In the European Championships 2004 were the runners-up.
The Catalan Bowling Federation was admitted by theInternational Federation of Bowling in 2007.[27]
Inten-pin bowling they have played in theWorld and European Championships, theAMF World Cup and theMediterranean Challenge Cup.
Innine-pin bowling, Catalonia national team played in the 2011 World Championship in Sarajevo.
Catalan skittles (Catalan:Bitlles catalanes) are also an ancient Catalan game, early documented in years 1376 and 1402, that consists in knocking down exactly five of the six skittles.
Rugby league in Catalonia is managed by theCatalan Association of Rugby LeagueThePerpignan-based clubCatalans Dragons, which plays in theSuper League, is helping the development of rugby league in southern Catalonia.
The first competition took part in 2008, with 3 teams.[28] In 2009 the firstCatalonia Championship was played, with 9 teams.[29]
Catalonia national team played their first competition in 2009, theRLEF Euro Med Challenge, withMorocco[30] andBelgium.[31] as opponents. Before this, they had played two test matches withCzech Republic and Morocco. In 2010 they played withCzech Republic in Prague.
Australian rules football has been played in Catalonia since 2000 and is organized by the Catalan Australian Football League (LFAC). Catalonia is member of theAussie Rules International andAussie Rules Europe, and has played 4European Cups (2005,[32]2007,2008[33] and2010).
The LFAC was officially created in 2005 and the first teams joining were Belfry Valls, Cornellà Bocs, Valls Fire and Alt Camp.
In 2009 the Catalan league is played by teams of several territories that speak Catalan language: Belfry Valls, Cornellà Bocs (southern Catalonia), Andorra Crows (Andorra), and Perpinyà (Northern Catalonia).
Catalonia was admitted by theFederation of International Touch in 2009.[34] They played the 2011Touch Football World Cup in Scotland.[35]
The Catalan Darts Federation was recognised byWorld Darts Federation in September 2011,[36][37] playing the 2011 World Cup in Ireland.[38]
TheAssociació de Quidditch de Catalunya was officially recognized as an independent NGB by theInternational Quidditch Association in 2015. Their first appearance was in the2015 IQA European Games held inSarteano, Italy. They reached seventh place out of twelve teams, beating Team Spain 160*–70.
In the same way as much of the rest of Europe, cycling was one of the first sports to gain popularity in Catalonia, since the 1880s. The first cycling body was the Club Velocipèdic of Barcelona (1884) followed by the Sport Ciclista Català. In 1893 the Bonanova velodrome was built with a length of 400 meters, considered one of the best in Europe at the time. In 1895 the Reus velodrome and in 1896 the Lleida velodrome were constructed.
In 1897 the Catalan Cycling Union was founded, which governed cycling in Catalonia.
In 1911 the first edition ofVolta a Catalunya was held, making it the third oldest cycling stage race in the world, behind only theTour de France (1903) and theGiro d'Italia (1909).
Other important races in Catalonia are theSetmana Catalana de Ciclisme (1963) andEscalada a Montjuïc (1965).
The main velodrome in Catalonia is theVelòdrom d'Horta.
Rugby union was introduced in Southern Catalonia in 1921, when Baldiri Aleu i Torres founded theUnió Esportiva Santboiana. In 1922 the Catalan Rugby Federation was founded, which was one of the founding members of the Paris-basedFIRA – Association of European Rugby,[1] from which it was expelled at the behest of Franco's fascist regime. It has still to be readmitted.
In Southern CataloniaUE Santboiana, who have won the Spanish championship seven times, andFC Barcelona, are the best Catalan rugby union teams that compete in theDivisión de Honor.
InNorthern Catalonia,USA Perpignan are the best-known Catalan club. They compete in the FrenchTop 14 and also in European competitions.
Swimming was introduced in Catalonia byBernat Picornell, founder ofClub Natació Barcelona in 1907. In 1908 this club organized the firstCopa Nadal swimming race in the Barcelona Harbour and the firstwater polo match. Main waterpolo clubs are CN Barcelona (1Euroleague),CN Catalunya (1Euroleague),CNA Barceloneta andCN Sabadell (1LEN Women's Champions' Cup).
Insynchronized swimming,Gemma Mengual is the best swimmer, and the best club is CN Kallipolis.
In 1907, alumni of the Ateneu Calasanç inTerrassa began playing field hockey, a sport that already practiced the English people living in Catalonia, and founded the Lawn Hoquei Club Calassanç in 1911.Terrassa is where traditionally has been practised, with a lot of teams asEgara (2EuroHockey Club Champions Cup), Atlètic de Terrassa (2EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, RC Polo (1EuroHockey Club Champions Cup) and CD Terrassa.
Catalonia has several of the best sports facilities in the world: