Sport in Catalonia
Encyclopedia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
are football, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, rink hockey, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
.
One of the main sport events held ever in Catalonia were the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
Structure
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 the Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur (FIRA) in 1934.Catalonia has officially recognised national teams in some sports competing in world and European championships as Catalonia, but in most sports Catalan sportspeople compete within Spanish national teams.
The best Catalan teams use to participate in European competitions.
Football
Catalonia also began to produce a number of football clubs including Palamós Foot-Ball Club
Palamós CF
Palamós Club de Futbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football team based in Palamós, a town and commercial port in the Costa Brava, in the autonomous community of Catalonia...
founded in 1898 and Català SC and Foot-Ball Club Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, both founded in 1899.
Soon there were enough clubs to organize a league and in December 1900, Alfons Macaya, the president of Hispania AC, offered a trophy, La Copa Macaya, that eventually evolved into the Catalonia championships that were played until 1940, when they were disbanded during Franco's dictatorship.
Today, football in Catalonia is organized by the Catalonia Football Federation, founded in 1903, and teams from Catalonia compete in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, the Copa del Rey
Copa del Rey
The Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
, the Copa Catalunya and several European competitions as the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and the UEFA Europa League.
The biggest clubs are FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, which has won 4 European Champions leagues
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, 4 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
s, and RCD Espanyol
RCD Espanyol
Reial Club Deportiu Espanyol de Barcelona is a sports club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is best known for its football team. Espanyol currently play in the Estadi Cornellà-El Prat with seats for 40,500 spectators. It was inaugurated on 2 August 2009...
, which has been twice runner-up of the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. Both play in La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
.
The Catalonia national team
Catalonia national football team
Catalonia national football team is the official football team of Catalonia. It is organized by the Catalonia Football Federation. The team has been referred to by various names including Selecció Catalana, Selecció de Barcelona and the Catalan XI...
's first match was in 1912 in Paris, against France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
. In the recent years they have played with Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
, Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
, Basque Country
Basque Country national football team
The Basque Country football team is considered the national team of the Basque Country greater region as selected players from the Basque Country Autonomous Community, the nearby Navarre and the Northern Basque Country in France play for it...
and Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
.
Basketball
Basketball was played for the first time in Catalonia in 1913, in the school Vallparadís of TerrassaTerrassa
Terrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital....
, encouraged by Alexandre Galí and Artur Martorell. After the First World War the Belgian Emile Tiberghien incorporated the basketball in his gym in Barcelona. Despite these early experiences, it's 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 of CE Europa
CE Europa
Club Esportiu Europa is a Spanish/Catalan sports club, based in the Gràcia district of Barcelona. The club is best known for its football team who in 1928, along with city neighbours FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol, were founder members of La Liga. During the late 1990s they won the Copa Catalunya...
on 8 December 1922, with a final scoreboard: Europa 8-Laietà 2.
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
.
Since 1980 the Catalan Basketball Federation organizes a new Catalan basketball league
Catalan basketball league
The Catalan Basketball Cup, more commonly known as Lliga Catalana, is the regional preseason basketball cup competition that has been organized by the Catalan Basketball Federation since 1980, in Catalonia, Spain....
, played by the best Catalan teams of the ACB league
Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto
The Liga ACB, known as the Liga Endesa for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Spain. It was founded in 1956 with the name of Liga Nacional. The league changed its name to the current one in 1983. The league is rated as one of the three "A" level European...
.
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet, known as FC Barcelona Regal for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club. It is part of the FC Barcelona sports club and was founded on August 24, 1926 which makes it the oldest club in Liga ACB. The club competes in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto...
(2 Euroleagues) and Joventut Badalona
Joventut Badalona
Club Joventut Badalona, S.A.D. is a Spanish professional basketball club based in Badalona, Catalonia, playing in the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto . Known to their fans as La Penya , it is one of only three teams that have never been relegated from the top division of the Spanish League...
(1 Euroleague) are the most successful Catalan basketball teams.
Some Catalan players are or have been playing in the NBA, as Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol
Pau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain...
, Raúl López
Raül López
Raül López i Molist is a Spanish professional basketball player. He has previously played for the NBA's Utah Jazz. López is a native of Vic, Barcelona, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. At 6 ft 0 in tall, he plays the point guard position...
, Juan Carlos Navarro
Juan Carlos Navarro
For the professional basketball player, see Juan Carlos Navarro Juan Carlos Navarro is a Panamanian businessman, environmentalist, and politician and was the Mayor of Panama City, Panama until June 30, 2009....
and Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol i Sàez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies. He was drafted in the second round, 48th overall, by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2007 NBA Draft...
.
Handball
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. BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
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.
FC Barcelona is one of the best clubs of Europe, with 8 EHF Champions League
EHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
s, 5 EHF Cup Winner's Cup
EHF Cup Winner's Cup
The EHF Cup Winners' Cup is the official competition for men's and women's clubs of Europe that won their national cup, and takes place every year. From 2012/13 the men's competition will be merged with EHF Cup to EHF European Cup. -Winners:-By Country:...
s, 18 Liga ASOBAL, 12 Catalonian Leagues, 12 Pirenees leagues, and several more cups. BM Granollers
BM Granollers
-Stadium Information:*Name: - Palau D'Esports*City: - Granollers*Capacity: - 6,500*Address: - C/. Voluntaris'92 núm. 1.-Famous players:...
is the other historical Catalan handball club that plays in the Liga ASOBAL.
Enric Masip
Enric Masip
Enric Masip Borràs has been one of the best handball players ever.Formed in the younger categories of BM Granollers, in 1987 begun to play with the first team...
is one of the best Catalan players ever, with 6 EHF Champions League
EHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
s, 2 EHF Cup Winner's Cup
EHF Cup Winner's Cup
The EHF Cup Winners' Cup is the official competition for men's and women's clubs of Europe that won their national cup, and takes place every year. From 2012/13 the men's competition will be merged with EHF Cup to EHF European Cup. -Winners:-By Country:...
s and 7 ASOBAL leagues.
Rink Hockey
The first rink 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 are F.C. Barcelona
FC Barcelona Hoquei
Futbol Club Barcelona Hoquei is a professional roller hockey team based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It's part of the FC Barcelona family and plays in the OK Liga...
, with 19 European League Championships
Rink Hockey Champions League
The European League is an annual roller hockey club competition organized by CERH with the most successful teams of Europe. It is the most prestigious club competition in this sport...
, Reus Deportiu
Reus Deportiu
Reus Deportiu is a Spanish professional roller hockey team based in Reus, Catalonia, and plays in the OK LigaThe club was founded in 1909 and their pavilion is Palau d'Esports Reus Deportiu with capacity of 2,500 seats.-Current Squad 2011–12:...
with 7 and Igualada HC
Igualada HC
Igualada Hoquei Club is a Spanish roller hockey club based in Igualada, Catalonia.The club was founded in 1950 and their pavilion is Pavelló Les Comes with capacity of 3,000 seats.In the 90's, Igualada HC was the best European team, winning 6 European Cups...
with 6. They play in the OK Liga
OK Liga
The OK Liga is the Spanish rink hockey league and is widely regarded as one of the best leagues in the world. Since 2009 it includes also a women's league.-Champions by year:-Performance by club:...
.
In the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, held in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Roller hockey
Roller hockey
Roller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and...
was one of three demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
s included in the official Olympic programme
Roller hockey at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Roller hockey was one of three demonstration sports included in the official Olympic programme of the 1992 Summer Olympics, held in Barcelona...
. This sport's widespread popularity and the existence of top-level competitive teams in Catalonia (such as F.C. Barcelona and Reus Deportiu
Reus Deportiu
Reus Deportiu is a Spanish professional roller hockey team based in Reus, Catalonia, and plays in the OK LigaThe club was founded in 1909 and their pavilion is Palau d'Esports Reus Deportiu with capacity of 2,500 seats.-Current Squad 2011–12:...
) prompted the Organizing Committee to suggest its inclusion in the Olympic programme.
In 2004 the Federació Catalana de Patinatge was admitted by the International Roller Sports Federation
International Roller Sports Federation
The International Roller Sports Federation or Fédération Internationale de Roller Sports is the world governing body for roller sports, including rink hockey, inline hockey, Inline speed skating and artistic roller skating...
(FIRS) as a provisional member, and as such it took part in the 2004 Rink Hockey World Championship B
2004 Rink Hockey Men's B World Championship
The 2004 Rink Hockey Men's B World Championship was the 36th edition of the Rink Hockey B World Championship, held from October 16 to 23, in Macau.The champion was Catalonia, that had obtained a FIRS provisional membership few months before the tournament...
in Macau. Catalonia national team
Catalonia men's national roller hockey team
The Catalonia men's national roller hockey team is the national team side of Catalonia at international roller hockey. Nowadays it's not officially recognized by International Roller Sports Federation ....
won all its matches and was crowned as 2004 B's World Champions and gained the right to be in the 2005 Rink Hockey World Championship
2005 Rink Hockey World Championship
The 2005 Rink Hockey World Championship was the 38th edition of the Rink Hockey World Championship, held between 6 and 13 August 2005, in San Jose, USA...
. 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 the Court of Arbitration for Sport
Court of Arbitration for Sport
The Court of Arbitration for Sport is an international arbitration body set up to settle disputes related to sport. Its headquarters are in Lausanne and its courts are located in New York, Sydney and Lausanne, Switzerland...
(CAS) ruled. in the case known as the Fresno Case
Fresno Case
The Case Fresno is the name assigned by the Catalonia media and public opinion to the Federation of International Roller Sports assembly held at Fresno , on 26 November 2004. It meant that for the first time in history, an international sport team that had been accepted provisionally was later not...
. 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, that finally was won by Spain, with a team composed by all the players from Catalonia.
Since 2004, Catalonia national teams have competed in the Blanes Golden Cup
Golden Cup
The Golden Cup is one Roller Hockey tournament disputed all years in the city of Blanes, Catalonia. The first edition was in 2004.-Men's:-Women's:-Men's:-Women's:-External Links:***...
with other national teams, winning the trophy six times by the men's team and three times by the ladies team.
In 2006 the Catalan roller skating Federation was admitted to the South American Rink Hockey Confederation and nowadays plays in the South American Championship
Rink Hockey American Championship
The Rink Hockey American Championship or CSP Copa America is a Rink Hockey competition with the national teams of American countries that happens every four years...
s. In 2010, the Catalonia men's team won the Copa America.
Motorsport
Circuit de Catalunya
The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:...
, built in 1991, is one of the main motorsport venues, holding the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix
Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix
The Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmeló, Catalonia, Spain, as part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season.-Multiple winners :-Multiple winners :-By year:...
, the Spanish F1 Grand Prix
Spanish Grand Prix
The Spanish Grand Prix is a Formula One race currently held at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, as part of the annual Formula One championship season.-History:...
, a DTM Gran Prix
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
, and several races. Also there are many Catalan Motorcycle manufacturers as Derbi
Derbi
Derbi is a brand of motorcycles, scooters, and recreational ATVs produced by Nacional Motor S.A.U., a Spanish subsidiary of Piaggio & Co...
, Bultaco
Bultaco
Bultaco was a Spanish manufacturer of two-stroke motorcycles from 1958 to 1983.-Origins:The origin of the Bultaco motorcycle company dates back to May 1958. Francisco "Paco" Bultó was a director of the Montesa motorcycle company founded in 1944. After several years of steady growth and road racing...
, Gas Gas
Gas Gas
Gas Gas is a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer, specialising in off-road motorbikes. Gas Gas are best known for their extremely popular trials bikes, although they also make successful enduro and quad bikes....
, Montesa
Montesa
Montesa may refer to:* the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer, now known as Montesa Honda;* Order of Montesa, a Christian military order;* Montesa, Valencia, a municipality in Spain....
, OSSA
Ossa (motorcycle)
Ossa was a motorcycle manufacturer based in Catalonia, Spain which was active from 1924 to 1982. Founded by Manuel Giró, an industrialist from Barcelona, Ossa was best known for lightweight two-stroke-engined bikes used in Observed Trials and Motocross...
Motorcycling is one of the historical sports, with motorcycle road racing
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
world champions as Àlex Crivillé
Alex Criville
Àlex Crivillé is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. In 1992 he became the first Spaniard to win a 500cc Grand Prix and, in 1999 he became the first Spaniard to win the 500cc World Championship....
, Sito Pons, Emilio Alzamora
Emilio Alzamora
Emilio Alzamora i Escardibul is a former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was the 1999 F.I.M. 125cc world champion...
and Dani Pedrosa
Dani Pedrosa
Daniel "Dani" Pedrosa Ramal is a Grand Prix motorcycle racer. Pedrosa grew up in a village near Sabadell called Castellar del Vallès. He is the youngest world champion in 250cc Grands Prix...
. Also worth mentioning Sete Gibernau
Sete Gibernau
Manuel Sete Gibernau Bultó is a former Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. His racing career spanned two different eras of motorcycle racing, beginning with the two-stroke-dominated period prior to the 2002 season, and the four-stroke MotoGP era...
Motorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
is also a sport practized by many Catalans, as the world champions Jordi Tarrés
Jordi Tarrés
Jordi Tarrés is an internationally renowned motorcycle trials racer. He was the outdoor FIM Trial World Championship winner for 7 years...
(7 times), Adam Raga
Adam Raga
Adam Raga in Ulldecona, province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain) is an internationally renowned Catalan Motorcycle trials racer.Has won 4 Indoor World Championships and 2 Outdoor World Championships.-Sporting achievements:...
(6 times), Toni Bou (10 times) and Laia Sanz (11 times), and many competitions are arganized around the country.
Rallies have several Catalan motorcycle champions as Nani Roma
Nani Roma
Nani Roma, full name Joan Roma Cararach, is a rally racing driver from Folgueroles, a small village in Barcelona, Spain. He won the Dakar Rally riding a motorcycle in 2004. Since then he has entered driving a car.-Honours:...
(1 Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
), Marc Coma
Marc Coma
Marc Coma i Camps is a rally racing motorcycle rider. He won the Dakar Rally in 2006, 2009 and 2011 riding a KTM motorcycle. He is also the World Champion in the Rallies Cross Country Motorcycles Tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2007.- Honours :- External links :*...
(
3 Rally Dakar and 3 times rallies cross country world champion), Jordi Arcarons (4 times runner-up in the Dakar Rally) and recently Laia Sanz (First Female Category Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
2011).
In car rallies, the Rally Catalunya
Rally Catalunya
The Rally Catalunya is a rally competition on the World Rally Championship schedule. Now held on the wide, smooth and sweeping asphalt roads around the town of Salou, Catalonia, Spain, it was previously held around the region of Costa Brava...
is one of the races of the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
since 1991. The first edition of Rally Catalunya was in 1957.
Tennis
Tennis began to be practiced in Catalonia in the late 19th century, in cities such as BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
or Reus
Reus
Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain. The area has always been an important producer of wines and spirits, and gained continental importance at the time of the Phylloxera plague...
, 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 won Roland Garros: Sergi Bruguera
Sergi Bruguera
Sergi Bruguera i Torner is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered for winning consecutive men's singles titles at the French Open in 1993 and 1994.-Career:...
(1993, 1994), Albert Costa
Albert Costa
Albert Costa i Casals is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered for winning the men's singles title at the French Open in 2002.-Tennis career:...
(2002) and Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Aránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
(1989, 1994, 1998); US Open: Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Aránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
(1994), and the Masters Cup
Tennis Masters Cup
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is a tennis tournament played at the end of each year, involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings....
: Àlex Corretja
Àlex Corretja
Àlex Corretja i Verdegay is a former professional tennis player from Spain. During his career, he finished runner-up twice at the French Open . He won the ATP Tour World Championships in 1998 and reached his career-high singles ranking of world no. 2 in 1999...
(1998). And also some medals have been won by Catalan tennis players in the Olympic Games: Jordi Arrese
Jordi Arrese
Jordi Arrese i Castañé is a former professional tennis player from Spain.Born in Barcelona, Arrese won the men's singles Silver Medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in his home-town of Barcelona...
, silver in 1992, Sergi Bruguera
Sergi Bruguera
Sergi Bruguera i Torner is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He is best remembered for winning consecutive men's singles titles at the French Open in 1993 and 1994.-Career:...
, silver in 1996, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario
Aránzazu 'Arantxa' Isabel Maria Sánchez Vicario is a Spanish former professional tennis player...
, silver in 1996 and silver in 1992 in doubles.
The main tournament is Torneo Godó
Torneo Godó
The Barcelona Open also known as Torneo Godó, Trofeo Conde de Godó, Open Banco Sabadell, is an annual tennis tournament for male professional players. The event has been held annually in Barcelona, Spain since 1953, and is played on clay courts. Originally an event of the Grand Prix tennis circuit...
, held in Barcelona on clay surface.
Korfball
Korfball
Korfball is a mixed gender team sport, with similarities to netball and basketball. A team consists of eight players; four female and four male. A team also includes a coach. It was founded in the Netherlands in 1902 by Nico Broekhuysen. In the Netherlands there are around 580 clubs, and over a...
has been played in Catalonia since 1982, and is managed by the Catalan Korfball Federation (FCK).
In 1997 the International Korfball Federation
International Korfball Federation
The International Korfball Federation was founded in Antwerp on the June 11, 1933 as a continuation of the International Korfball Bureau established in 1924 by the Dutch and Belgian Associations...
admitted the Catalan Federation of Korfball as a provisional member, and in 2005 it was granted full membership.
Catalonia's national team has played 3 World Championships reaching the 8th place in 1999. It has played 3 European Championships
European Korfball Championship
European Korfball Championship is a competition organized by the International Korfball Federation for the European national teams. Is played every four years.-External links:*...
with a 5th place in 2010 and a 6th place in 2006 and won the European Bowl in 2005.
The Catalan competition is divided into a "First division" and 2 "Second divisions" with a number of teams such as C.K. Vacarisses
Club Korfbal Vacarisses
Club Korfbal Vacarisses is a Catalan korfball team located in Vacarisses . The team was founded on 2003 and they play in white shirts and red shorts/skirts. They are the current Catalan national champions.-Honours:-External links:*...
, C.E. Vilanova i la Geltrú, C.K. Assessoria Vallparadís
Club Korfball Vallparadís
Club Korfbal Vallparadís is a Catalan korfball team located in Terrassa, playing home matches in the Pavelló Municipal de Sant Llorenç.They are the first catalan club winner of a European competition, the Europa Shield in 2009. In 2011 thew won for the second time the Europa Shield, in Warsaw.In...
, C.K. Cerdanyola, C.K. Badalona - La Rotllana, Sant Llorenç K.C., Unió Korfbalera Sant Adrià de Besòs
Unió Korfbalera Sant Adrià de Besòs
The Unió Korfbalera Sant Adrià de Besòs is the korfbal team of Sant Adrià de Besòs city. Nowadays, it is a member of the Catalan League of Korfbal, and the club’s president is Pilar Arnalda Piñol. The UKSA is one of the oldest clubs of Catalonia, being a member of the Catalan Federation of Korfbal...
, K.C. Barcelona
Korfbal Club Barcelona
The Korfbal Club Barcelona is the first club of Sant Cugat of the city of Sant Cugat, founded on the 5th June of 2006.-Competitions:The senior team of the KCB participates this season in the group B of the Second National Division of the Catalan League of Korfbal, together with the Korfbal...
, C.K. Castellbisbal, K.E.C.A., Korfball Valldemia and A.A.E.I.E.S. Secretari Coloma de Barcelona.
Club Korfball Vallparadís
Club Korfball Vallparadís
Club Korfbal Vallparadís is a Catalan korfball team located in Terrassa, playing home matches in the Pavelló Municipal de Sant Llorenç.They are the first catalan club winner of a European competition, the Europa Shield in 2009. In 2011 thew won for the second time the Europa Shield, in Warsaw.In...
has won 2 Europa Shields
Korfball Europa Shield
Europa Shield is the second European competition for korfball clubs. Include the second and third classified for the "B" countries and first classified for "C" countries. It was first played in 2001.-Europa Shield standings:...
, in 2009 and 2011.
Pitch and putt
Pitch and puttPitch and putt
Pitch and putt is an amateur sport, similar to golf. The maximum hole length for international competitions is with a maximum total course length of . Players may only use three clubs; one of which must be a putter...
is played in Catalonia since the "1980's" when Martin Withelaw build a course in Solius (Santa Cristina d'Aro
Santa Cristina d'Aro
Santa Cristina d'Aro is a small town in the Aro valley at the junction of the road from Girona/Barcelona to Sant Feliu de Guíxols and Palamós. It is home to a number of workers in the nearby holiday resorts. The Costa Brava golf course is on the outskirts of the town.The municipality includes...
, Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
). 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 the European Pitch and Putt Association
European Pitch and Putt Association
The European Pitch and Putt Association is the governing body for Pitch and putt in Europe.It was formed in 2000 by representatives from Pitch and Putt Union of Ireland , British Pitch and Putt Union , Associació Catalana de Pitch and Putt , Association Française de Pitch and Putt , Nederlandse...
, the governing body that develops pitch and putt in Europe and stages a biennial European Team Championships
European Pitch and putt Championship
The European Pitch and putt Championship is the team championship promoted by the European Pitch and Putt Association , and was first held in 1999.- European championships :The champions so far are:-External links :*...
, which Catalonia won in 2010 and has reached the second place three times.
In 2006 the "Federació Catalana de Pitch and putt" participated in the creation of the Federation of International Pitch and Putt Associations
Federation of International Pitch and Putt Associations
The Federation of International Pitch and Putt Associations is the governing body for the Pitch and putt in the world.It was created in March 2006 by the representatives of 17 national governing bodies....
(FIPPA), that stages a biennial World Team Championships. Catalonia has won 2 World Cups (2004 and 2006)
Futsal
FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
in Catalonia is managed by Catalonia Futsal Federation (FCFS) (Federació Catalana de Futbol Sala), affiliated to European Union of Futsal
European Union of Futsal
The European Union of Futsal is a sporting international association for Futsal in Europe, founded in 1988.UEFS is the continental governing body for Europe, affiliated to World Futsal Association . The current president is Valeriy Akhumyan....
in 2004 and recognised by the World Futsal association
Asociación Mundial de Fútbol de Salón
The Asociación Mundial de Futsal is the first governing bodies of futsal alongside FIFA. Formed in 2002, it is the successor organisation to the Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón which since 1971 was the original governing body for futsal in the world.-History:Futsal...
(AMF) in 2006. And it's also managed by Catalonia Football Federation
Catalonia Football Federation
The Catalan Football Federation is a football organization responsible for administering football in Catalonia. It was formed on 11 November, 1900 as the Football Associació de Catalunya . It was the first football association founded in Spain...
(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 four times the UEFS European Championships, reaching the second place in 2006, and twice in AMF Futsal World Cup, in 2007 and 2011
2011 AMF Futsal Men's World Cup
The AMF Futsal World Cup 2011 was held in Colombia in the cities of Bucaramanga, Bogota, Villavicencio and Bello , from March 15 to 26. It was organized by the Federacion Colombiana de Fútbol de Salón and the Asociación Mundial de Futsal with the participation of 16 national teams.-Teams:-Pools...
. Also played in the 2007 AMF World Tournament in Yakutia, with the sixth place.
Catalonia women's national team
Catalonia women's national futsal team
The Catalonia women's national futsal team represents the Spanish region of Catalonia in international futsal competitions organized by AMF and UEFS. It is controlled by the Catalonia Futsal Federation...
were the Champions in the first Women's World Championship, held in Reus
Reus
Reus is the capital of the comarca of Baix Camp, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain. The area has always been an important producer of wines and spirits, and gained continental importance at the time of the Phylloxera plague...
in 2008. In the European Championships 2004 were the runners-up.
Bowling
The Catalan Bowling Federation was admitted by the International Federation of BowlingFédération Internationale des Quilleurs
The Fédération Internationale des Quilleurs is the world governing body of nine-pin and ten-pin bowling...
in 2007.
In ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
they have played in the World
WTBA World Tenpin Bowling Championships
The WTBA World Championships is a global event that invites all countries that are members of the WTBA to participate.-Event details and history:...
and European Championships, the AMF World Cup
AMF World Cup
The AMF World Cup, now a joint partnership between Qubica and AMF , is an annual Ten-pin bowling championship, and one of the largest in terms of number of participating nations...
and the Mediterranean Challenge Cup
Mediterranean Challenge Cup
The Mediterranean Challenge Cup is a ten-pin bowling competition for the federations around Mediterranean Sea. It is recognised by the European Tenpin Bowling Federation and is played since 1998.-I MCC - Nicosia 1998:...
. In Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling is a bowling game played primarily in Europe. European championships are held each year. Over 90,000 members are on teams in Germany, often playing in officially registered Bundeskegelbahnen to be found in almost every sizable town...
they played the 2011 World Championships.
In nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling
Nine-pin bowling is a bowling game played primarily in Europe. European championships are held each year. Over 90,000 members are on teams in Germany, often playing in officially registered Bundeskegelbahnen to be found in almost every sizable town...
, Catalonia national team played in the 2011 World Championship in Sarajevo.
Catalan skittles are also an ancient Catalan game, early documentated in years 1376 and 1402, that consists in knocking down exactly five of the six skittles.
Rugby league
Rugby League in Catalonia is managed by the Catalan Association of Rugby LeagueAssociació Catalana de Rugby Lliga
The Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in Catalonia. The Association was formed in 2007 and since then has organized and governed the Catalan competitions...
, member of the Rugby League European Federation
Rugby League European Federation
The Rugby League European Federation is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. It supports the Rugby League International Federation . The RLEF "oversees and co-ordinates the development of the sport in all its member...
(RLEF) since August 2008.
The Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
-based club Catalans Dragons
Catalans Dragons
The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...
, that has played in the otherwise British Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
is helping to the development of rugby league in southern Catalonia.
The first competition took part in 2008, with 3 teams. In 2009 the first Catalonia Championship
Catalan Rugby League Championship
The Catalan Rugby League Championship is the rugby league competition for clubs in Catalonia, promoted by the Catalan Rugby League Association and played since 2009.-Group 1:-Group 2:-3rd and 4th places:-Final:-Group 1:-Group 2:...
was played, with 9 teams.]].
Catalonia national team played their first competition in 2009, the RLEF Euro Med Challenge
RLEF Euro Med Challenge
-Standings:-2009:In 2009, the RLEF announced that Russia, Lebanon and Serbia would be promoted to a revamped European Nations Cup. The Euro-Med Challenge was therefore contested by three new teams in 2009 - Belgium and Catalonia, who made their competitive debuts, and Morocco...
, with Morocco
Morocco national rugby league team
-Results:* Lebanon def. Morocco 72-4 * Morocco def. Belgium 46-12 * Morocco def. Catalonia 29-6 * Morocco def. Italy 32-10 * Morocco def. Catalonia 62-12...
and Belgium
Belgium national rugby league team
The Belgium national rugby league team represents Belgium in the sport of rugby league football.-History:The success of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup resulted in a popularity surge for the sport around the world. As a result, a number of new nations took up the sport. Belgium followed this...
. as opponents. Before this, they had played two test matches with Czech Republic
Czech Republic national rugby league team
-National team:The following is a summary of tournaments and results for the Czech Republic National Rugby League Team.-2006:The year 2006 saw the inaugural entrance of the Czech Rugby League team. Playing two games against the Dutch team Netherlands Tasman . This was a close and competitive match...
and Morocco. In 2010 they played with Czech Republic
Czech Republic national rugby league team
-National team:The following is a summary of tournaments and results for the Czech Republic National Rugby League Team.-2006:The year 2006 saw the inaugural entrance of the Czech Rugby League team. Playing two games against the Dutch team Netherlands Tasman . This was a close and competitive match...
in Prague.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football has been played in Catalonia since 2000 and is organized by the Catalan Australian Football League (LFAC). Catalonia is member of the Aussie Rules InternationalAussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International promotes and develops the sport of Australian rules football internationally. Committed to working with all stakeholders to assist the international growth of the sport, its focus is on:...
and Aussie Rules Europe
Aussie Rules Europe
Aussie Rules Europe was a body created on 8 October, 2005 in London to help promote and develop the sport of Australian rules football in Europe...
, and has played 4 European Cups
EU Cup
thumb|Logo of the 2007 EU CupThe EU Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament played between European national teams. Played under 9-a-side Footy rules, the tournament was first held at Chiswick Rugby Club in London, England in 2005 as an extension of the Central European...
(2005
2005 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2005 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in London on October 9, 2005, with 10 national teams. The tournament was won by Belgium who were crowned European Champions after defeating Sweden in the final.-Teams:-Pools:--------...
, 2007
2007 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2007 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in Hamburg in 15 September 2007, with the attendance of 12 teams. The tournament was won by Sweden defeating Germany in the final.-Teams:-Pool matches:----------------...
, 2008
2008 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2008 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in Prague on October 11, 2008, with 12 teams. The championship was won by England, defeating Croatia in the final.-Teams:-Pools round:-Final round:...
and 2010
2010 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2010 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in Milan on October 2, 2010, with 15 national teams. For the first time a women's international match took place during the competition.-Venue:...
).
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
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
), and Perpinyà (Northern Catalonia
Northern Catalonia
Northern Catalonia is a term that is sometimes used, particularly in Catalan writings, to refer to the territory ceded to France by Spain through the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659...
).
Touch Rugby
Catalonia was admitted by the Federation of International TouchFederation of International Touch
The Federation of International Touch is the worldwide governing body for Touch football.The Federation of International Touch was formed at a meeting held in conjunction with the Australian National championships that were held in Melbourne in 1985....
in 2009. They played the 2011 Touch Football World Cup
Touch Football World Cup
-World Cup Results 1988 - 2007:-World Cup Venues:The following outlines the World Cups held and planned for the future* 1988 - Australia * 1991 - New Zealand * 1995 - USA * 1999 - Australia * 2003 - Japan...
in Scotland.
Darts
The Catalan Darts Federation was recognised by World Darts FederationWorld Darts Federation
The World Darts Federation Is a sport governing body and tournament organiser for the game of darts. It was formed in 1976, by representatives of fifteen nations. Membership is open to the official National organizing body for Darts in all nations...
in September 2011, playing the 2011 World Cup in Ireland.
Cycling
In the same way as happened to the rest of Europe, the cycling was one of the first sports who took force and popularity in Catalonia, since the eighties of the 19th century. The first clyclist entity was the Club Velocipèdic of Barcelona (1884) and then was founded the Sport Ciclista Català. In 1893 was built the Bonanova velodrome with a measure of 400 meters, considered one of the best in Europe in those days. In 1895 was built the Reus velodrome and in 1896, the Lleida velodrome.In 1897 was founded the Catalan Cycling Union, who managed the cycling in Catalonia.
In 1911 was organized the first edition of Volta a Catalunya, that is the third oldest cycling stage race in the world, only behind Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
(1903) and Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
(1909).
Other important races in Catalonia are Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme
The Catalan Cycling Week was an important multi-stage road bicycle race held in Catalonia, Spain. It was last organised in 2005 as a 2.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour...
(1963) and Escalada a Montjuïc
Escalada a Montjuïc
The Escalada a Montjuïc is a one-day, two-stage road bicycle racing race held in Barcelona, Spain since 1965. It is held in the middle of October, as one of the final races in the European season. Since 2005, it is organised as a 1.2 category race as a part of the UCI Europe Tour...
(1965).
The main velodrome in Catalonia is the Velòdrom d'Horta
Velòdrom d'Horta
Velòdrom d'Horta is a velodrome in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain that was the track cycling venue for the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was also the venue for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1984....
.
Rugby union
Rugby union was introduced in Southern Catalonia in 1921, when Baldiri Aleu i Torres founded the Unió Esportiva SantboianaUE Santboiana
Unió Esportiva Santboiana is a Spanish rugby union club. The club was established in 1921 and currently competes in the División de Honor de Rugby competition, the highest level of Spanish club rugby. The club are based in Sant Boi de Llobregat in Catalonia, considered to be one of the capitals of...
. In 1922 the Catalan Rugby Federation was founded, which was one of the founding members of the Paris-based FIRA – Association of European Rugby, from which it was expelled at the behest of Franco's fascist regime. It has still to be readmitted.
In Southern Catalonia UE Santboiana
UE Santboiana
Unió Esportiva Santboiana is a Spanish rugby union club. The club was established in 1921 and currently competes in the División de Honor de Rugby competition, the highest level of Spanish club rugby. The club are based in Sant Boi de Llobregat in Catalonia, considered to be one of the capitals of...
, who have won the Spanish championship seven times, and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Rugby
FCB Rugby is a Spanish rugby union club. The senior team currently plays in División de Honor B, the second level of Spanish rugby union. The club plays home games at the Ciutat Esportiva Municipal Vall d'Hebrón-Teixonera and belong to the FC Barcelona family...
, are the best Catalan rugby union teams that compete in the División de Honor
División de Honor de Rugby
-Past winners:-External links:*...
.
In Northern Catalonia
Northern Catalonia
Northern Catalonia is a term that is sometimes used, particularly in Catalan writings, to refer to the territory ceded to France by Spain through the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659...
, USA Perpignan
USA Perpignan
Union Sportive des Arlequins Perpignanais or Unió eSportiva Arlequins de Perpinyà , generally abbreviated as USAP in both languages, is a French rugby union club that plays in the city of Perpignan in Pyrénées-Orientales. The club currently competes in the Top 14, the top level of the French...
are the best-known Catalan club. They compete in the French Top 14 and also in European competitions.
Water sports
Swimming was introduced in Catalonia by Bernat Picornell, founder of Club Natació Barcelona in 1907. In 1908 this club organized the first Copa Nadal swimming race in the Barcelona Harbour and the first water poloWater polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
match. Main waterpolo clubs are CN Barcelona (1 Euroleague
LEN Euroleague
The LEN Euroleague and the Women's Champions' Cup are the premier European water polo club competitions run by the Ligue Européenne de Natation...
), CN Catalunya (1 Euroleague
LEN Euroleague
The LEN Euroleague and the Women's Champions' Cup are the premier European water polo club competitions run by the Ligue Européenne de Natation...
), CNA Barceloneta and CN Sabadell (1 LEN Women's Champions' Cup).
In synchronized swimming
Synchronized swimming
Synchronized swImming is a hybrid form of swimming, dance and gymnastics, consisting of swimmers performing a synchronized routine of elaborate moves in the water, accompanied by music....
, Gemma Mengual
Gemma Mengual
Gemma Mengual Civil is a Spanish synchronized swimmer. She has competed at the 2000, 2004, and 2008 Summer Olympics.- Medals :...
is the best swimmer, and the best club is CN Kallipolis.
Field hockey
In 1907, alumni of the Ateneu Calasanç in TerrassaTerrassa
Terrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital....
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
Terrassa
Terrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital....
is where traditionally has been practised, with a lot of teams as Egara
Club Egara
Club Egara is a field hockey club from Terrassa . It was founded in 1935 with the name 'CD Armonia Egara'. It plays in the Pla del Bon Aire facilities. It's one of the best teams in Spain, it won 13 Spanish leagues....
(2 EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
The EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, previously known as the European Club Championship, is the leading woman's field hockey competition for clubs in Europe. It is held annually. Prior to the creation of the Euro Hockey League in 2007, the woman's competition also had a men's counterpart of the same...
), Atlètic de Terrassa (2 EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
The EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, previously known as the European Club Championship, is the leading woman's field hockey competition for clubs in Europe. It is held annually. Prior to the creation of the Euro Hockey League in 2007, the woman's competition also had a men's counterpart of the same...
, RC Polo (1 EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
EuroHockey Club Champions Cup
The EuroHockey Club Champions Cup, previously known as the European Club Championship, is the leading woman's field hockey competition for clubs in Europe. It is held annually. Prior to the creation of the Euro Hockey League in 2007, the woman's competition also had a men's counterpart of the same...
) and CD Terrassa.
Major sports facilities
| Facility | Main sports | City |
|---|---|---|
| Camp Nou Camp Nou Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957.... |
Football | Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys is a stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Originally built in 1927 for the 1929 International Exposition in the city , it was renovated in 1989 to be the main stadium for the 1992 Summer Olympics... |
Football - Athletics | Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Palau Sant Jordi Palau Sant Jordi Palau Sant Jordi is an indoor sporting arena and multi-purpose installation that is part of the Olympic Ring complex located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain... |
Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... - Gymnastics Gymnastics Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Palau Blaugrana Palau Blaugrana Palau Blaugrana is an arena in Barcelona, Catalonia , belonging to FC Barcelona . The 7,585 seating capacity arena is home to the basketball, handball, roller hockey, and futsal divisions of FC Barcelona... |
Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... - Handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team... - Roller hockey Roller hockey Roller Hockey is a form of hockey played on a dry surface using skates with wheels. The term "Roller Hockey" is often used interchangeably to refer to two variant forms chiefly differentiated by the type of skate used. There is traditional "Roller Hockey," played with quad roller skates, and... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Velòdrom d'Horta Velòdrom d'Horta Velòdrom d'Horta is a velodrome in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain that was the track cycling venue for the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was also the venue for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in 1984.... |
Cycling Cycling Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Port Olímpic de Barcelona | Sailing Sailing (sport) Sailing is a well organized and recognized sport.There is a broad variety of kinds of races and sailboats used for racing. Much racing is done around buoys or similar marks in protected waters, while some longer offshore races cross open water... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc The Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc is a sports venue situated in the Olympic Ring in Barcelona. The venue consists of two swimming pools: a pool for diving and a 25m outdoor pool... |
Swimming Swimming (sport) Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native... - Water polo Water polo Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Piscines Bernat Picornell Piscines Bernat Picornell Piscines Bernat Picornell is a swimming venue situated in the Olympic Ring in Montjuïc, Barcelona. The venue consists of three swimming pools: a 50m indoor pool, a 50m outdoor pool, and a pool for diving... |
Swimming Swimming (sport) Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native... - Water polo Water polo Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Tennis de la Vall d'Hebron Tennis de la Vall d'Hebron The Tennis de la Vall d'Hebron is a sports venue located in Barcelona. Modified in 1991, it used only nine of the 17 courts for the tennis competitions of the 1992 Summer Olympics.-Reference:* Volume 2. pp. 246-9.... |
Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Facilities of RCT Barcelona Real Club de Tenis Barcelona The Real Club de Tenis Barcelona 1899 is a private tennis club in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The facility has 18 clay courts, including a stadium court with a capacity of 7,200 and show court for 2,000 spectators. Since moving to its current location in the northwest of the city in 1953, the... |
Tennis Tennis Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Facilities of RC Polo Barcelona Real Club de Polo de Barcelona The Real Club de Polo de Barcelona is a sports venue located in Barcelona. Established in 1897, it has 9000 members at the time of the 1992 Summer Olympics... |
Equestrianism Equestrianism Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Palau de Gel | Ice hockey Ice hockey Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Camp Olímpic de Tir amb Arc Camp Olímpic de Tir amb Arc The Camp Olímpic de Tir amb Arc was a temporary venue located in Barcelona. It hosted the archery competitions for the 1992 Summer Olympics. It was located in a site at the Ronda de Dalt, next to the Pavelló de la Vall d'Hebron, in the Barcelona district of Horta-Guinardó.After the Olympics, it... |
Archery Archery Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Camp de Beisbol Pérez de Rozas | Baseball Baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... |
| Pavelló Olímpic de Badalona | Basketball Basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... |
Badalona Badalona Badalona is a city in eastern Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the comarca of the Barcelonès, near the city of Barcelona and part of its metropolitan area. It is situated on the left bank of the small Besòs River and on the Mediterranean Sea, backed by the Serra de la Marina mountain range... |
| Palau D'Esports de Granollers Palau D'Esports de Granollers Palau d'Esports de Granollers is an arena in Granollers, Catalonia. It is primarily used for team handball and is the home arena of BM Granollers. The arena, projected by the Catalan architect Pep Bonet, holds 5,685 people and was opened in 1991 for the 1992 Summer Olympics... |
Handball Team handball Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team... |
Granollers Granollers Granollers is a city near Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and most densely populated city of the comarca of Vallès Oriental.Granollers is a bustling business centre, and many industries are located there... |
| Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa Estadi Olímpic de Terrassa is a stadium in Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain. It is currently used for football matches and is the home stadium of Terrassa FC. The stadium holds 11,500 spectators.... |
Field hockey Field hockey Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks... |
Terrassa Terrassa Terrassa is a city in the east central region of Catalonia, Spain, in the comarca of Vallès Occidental, of which it is the co-capital along with Sabadell, the historic capital.... |
| Circuit de Catalunya Circuit de Catalunya The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:... |
Motorcycle sport - Auto racing Auto racing Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:... |
Montmeló Montmeló Montmeló is a municipality in the comarca of Vallès Oriental in Catalonia, Spain. It contains the Circuit de Catalunya, which is the home of the Formula One Spanish Grand Prix and the MotoGP Catalan Grand Prix.- Demography :-References:... |
| Circuit d'Alcarràs | Motorcycle sport | Alcarràs Alcarràs Alcarràs is a municipality in the comarca of the Segrià in Catalonia.- Demography :-External links :***... |
| Canal Olímpic de Catalunya Canal Olímpic de Catalunya The Canal Olímpic de Catalunya is a canal located in Castelldefels, Catalonia, Spain. Constructed in 1991, it hosted the canoe sprint events for the 1992 Summer Olympics.-References:* Volume 2. pp. 319-22.... |
Canoeing Canoeing Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'.... |
Castelldefels Castelldefels Castelldefels is a town in the Baix Llobregat comarca, in the province of Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain and part of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona. Its population is 63.151 .-Geography and location:... |
| Parc Olímpic del Segre Parc Olímpic del Segre Parc Olímpic del Segre is a canoeing and kayaking facility in La Seu d'Urgell, Catalonia, Spain, built in 1990 for use during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.... |
Canoeing Canoeing Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'.... |
La Seu d'Urgell La Seu d'Urgell La Seu d'Urgell is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of Bishop of Urgell, one of the Andorra co-princes... |
| Estany de Banyoles | Rowing Rowing (sport) Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water... |
Banyoles Banyoles Banyoles is a city of 17,309 inhabitants located in the province of Girona in northeastern Catalonia, Spain.The town is the capital of the Catalan comarca "Pla de l'Estany"... |
| Camp de Tir Olímpic de Mollet Camp de Tir Olímpic de Mollet The Camp de Tir Olímpic de Mollet is a firing range located in Mollet del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain. Constructed between June 1990 and April 1992 and located near the Academy of the Police of Catalonia, it hosted the shooting and the shooting part of the modern pentathlon competitions for the 1992... |
Shooting sport | Mollet del Vallès Mollet del Vallès Mollet del Vallès is a municipality in the comarca of the Vallès Oriental in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the valley of the Besòs river, and is an important communications hub from Barcelona towards the north: the AP-7 Motorway passes through the municipality, as do the RENFE railway lines... |
| Club Hípic El Montanyà | Equestrianism Equestrianism Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses... |
Seva Seva Seva may refer to:*Volunteer work; selfless service; work offered to God *Seva , in Indian cuisine, a snack food made by deep-frying strands of chick pea flour dough flavored with chili powder, salt, and sometimes coriander... |
| La Molina La Molina (ski resort) La Molina is a ski resort in the Pyrenees mountains of northeastern Spain, in the municipality of Alp in the comarca of Cerdanya, Catalonia... |
Ski Ski A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes... |
Alp |