Sport in Spain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sport in Spain in the second half of 20th century has been dominated by football and bullfighting is the national and traditional sport of the country. Other popular sport activities include basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling, Formula 1, water sports, golf, and skiing. Spain has also hosted a number of international events such as the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
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[edit] Types of sports
[edit] Bullfighting
[edit] Futbol
Football is regarded to be the most popular sport in Spain. La Liga (The Spanish League) is ranked as the highest division of football, and it is considered to be one of the world's best competitions. Notable teams includes FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, Atletico de Madrid, Sevilla CF, Villarreal, Deportivo La Coruña and Valencia CF. Real Madrid is currently voted as the number one team, having produced the greatest winning record at the UEFA Champions League. Other successfull teams such as Sevilla CF, and Valencia CF have also won the UEFA Cup during the 2000s.
The Spanish national football team has been successfull and have qualified for the FIFA World Cup tournament twelve times since 1978. However, they have failed to win the tournament. Spain achieved a fourth place position in 1950. Their record in the European Championship is considered to be better and they became champions of the UEFA European Football Championship tournament in 1964, and achieving a runners-up position in 1984.
Spain has won 2 medals in each football Olympic games tournament. They have won a silver medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, and won a gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
[edit] Basketball
Basketball is a popular sport in Spain. The Spanish ACB is one of the major European basketball leagues. Spanish teams such as Real Madrid Baloncesto, FC Barcelona Bàsquet or Joventut Badalona have won international championships such as the Euroleague or the ULEB Cup.
A number of Spanish players such as Jorge Garbajosa, José Calderón, Rudy Fernández (basketball), Sergio Rodriguez,Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol, are currently playing in the NBA league.
The Spanish national basketball team has achieved a high ranked position in the international tournament by winning a gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and winning a silver medal at the Eurobasket 2007.
[edit] Tennis
Spain has produced a number of tennis champions, excelling in tournaments held on clay courts such as the Roland Garros tournament.
Notable tennis players include Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Carlos Moyá, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Feliciano López Felix Mantilla,Fernando Verdasco, Alberto Berasategui, Sergi Bruguera, Albert Costa, Àlex Corretja, Conchita Martínez, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Emilio Sánchez Vicario, and Manuel Santana.
[edit] Handball
The Spanish Liga ASOBAL is one of the major handball tournaments in Europe. A number of Spanish teams such as BM Ciudad Real, FC Barcelona Handbol, and Portland San Antonio have won or have become finalists in the EHF Champions League.
During the 2000s the Spanish national handball team has been a regular finalist in top class international tournaments. They won a bronze medal in 2000 at the World Handball Championship, and won the World Championship in 2005, and winning a silver medal at the 2006 European Handball Championship.
[edit] Motor sports
Spain have hosted three Grand Prix motorcycle racing events. They include the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spanish Grand Prix, and the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix. Most events have received high attendance numbers.
Current Spanish motorcycling champions include Dani Pedrosa, Héctor Faubel, Jorge Lorenzo, Héctor Barberá, Álvaro Bautista and Emilio Alzamora. Notable retired racers include Álex Crivillé, Jorge Martínez Aspar, Sete Gibernau, Sito Pons, and Ángel Nieto.
Spain has hosted the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix. The achievements of Fernando Alonso has made the sport become popular in the country. These events have established two Grand Prix tournaments to be held in Spain. They include the European Grand Prix and Valencia Street Circuit.
[edit] Cycling
Cycling has been an important sport in Spain since the 1940s. The Vuelta a España (Spanish for "Tour of Spain") is one of the most important cycling events in the world, together with the Tour de France (French for "Tour of France") and Giro d'Italia (Italian for "Tour of Italy") racing tournaments.
Some of Spain's cycling athletes have won the Tour de France, including Federico Bahamontes, Luis Ocaña, Pedro Delgado,Óscar Pereiro, and Alberto Contador. The most successful Spanish cyclist is Miguel Indurain. He has won the Tour de France in five consecutive periods between 1991 and 1995.
[edit] Golf
Golf has become popular among the Spanish. There are a number of courses located in different parts of Spain. They include the San Roque, Sotogrande, Valderrama, and Alcaidesa. Spain hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup.
Spanish golf players such as Severiano Ballesteros has won the Masters 3 times, and 2 in the British Open tournament; while José María Olazábal has won 2 Masters championship title.
[edit] Roller hockey (Quad)
Roller hockey (Quad) is played by professional athletes. The Spanish national team are ranked in the top 4 position teams in the world.
[edit] Basque and Valencian pelota
Basque pelota and Valencian pilota are traditional Spanish sports. Tournaments includes trinquete, Trofeu Individual Bancaixa, Circuit Bancaixa, raspall singles championship, and raspall team championship.
[edit] Skiing
Skiing is a popular sport. In the past, the sport was under developed for economic reasons. However the improvement of the economy of Spain, helped skiing become an active sport event. It has become affordable, and today three million skiers demand a development of the ski areas, that have been modernized in the last years. In Spain is the southernmost ski resort of Europe, Sierra Nevada. Skiing is one of the favourite sports of the Spanish Royal Family.
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Ski resorts in Spain - See complete list |  |
| Alp 2500 | Alto Campoo | Astún | Baqueira-Beret | Boi Taüll | Candanchú | Cerler | Formigal | Javalambre | La Covatilla | La Pinilla | Manzaneda | Navacerrada | Panticosa-Los Lagos | Port del Compte | Rasos de Peguera | Sierra Nevada | Valdelinares | Valdesqui | Valdezcaray | Valgrande-Pajares | Vallter 2000 | Vall de Núria | ||
[edit] Volleyball
Volleyball is one of the most popular team sports in Spain. The Spanish volleyball have created international competitions, for both local and international tournaments. The game of volleyball is played during the summer period. It is participated by atheletes and numerous popular competitions organized by vóley beach, not only in the coastal beaches, but also in the main cities.
[edit] Rugby
Rugby has been played in Spain since the 1920s. Although not as well-known as sports like football and basketball, it is gaining in popularity. Areas with a tradition of playing rugby include Valladolid, Sant Boi de Llobregat and the Basque Country.
Spain qualified for the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
[edit] Hunting
Spain offers two types of hunting tournaments. They include a tournament of hunting for animals such as rabbits, deer, and boars.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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