Sport and the Basque people
· Football:
Bilbao Athletic Club
· Basque pelota
· Rural sports
· Rowing
Football:
Bilbao Athletic Club
History
The club was founded at the end of the XIX century, when – under the
influence of British trading partners –, a new sport called foot-ball
reached the Basque shores. Thus the team was known as Bilbao Foot-ball Club
until 1898, when the Athletic Club was officially born.
San Mamés stadium was built in 1913 to accomodate the increasing number
of supporters who wanted to attend the “Cathedral” of football.
Bilbao Athletic Club has a quasi-religious quality for bilbainos, able to
bring together all strata of society, due to its unique policy of only hiring
local players, and for being one of the only three teams in the Spanish league
never to have suffered a relegation from the top division. Bilbao Athletic
Club is certainly a rare breed in these times of commercialised sport.
Team headquarters: Palacio Ibaigane
Alameda Mazarredo, 23. Bilbao
Tel: 94 424 08 78
Stadium
San Mamés, opened on 21st of August, 1913.
Capacity: 40.000 spectators
Dimensions: 103 x 68 m
Address: Felipe Serrate, s/n. 48013 Bilbao
Tel: 94 441 14 45
Ticket sales
At San Mamés stadium and Teleka (BBK) cash machines.
Titles
8 League championships
24 Cups
1 Supercup
+ info: www.athletic-club.net
and www.fundacionathleticclub.net
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Basque pelota
This is the most popular of the indigenous sports, both locally and internationally.
It has several varieties (hand, wooden racket, or basket) and can be played
either individually or as doubles.
The hand version (“pelota mano”) is the most widely played version
in all Basque villages, where a frontón (pelota court) is usually found
on one of the sides of the local church. “Pelota a pala” is played
with a thick and narrow wooden racket. The cesta-punta is certainly the most
spectacular variety, not only for the speed that the ball reaches, but for
its aesthetic quality, as the long and narrow basket hook seems an extension
of the player’s arm. This variety is played professionally in frontons
accross the world in USA, México, Argentina, Philipines, and China.
In the Basque Country the most important tournaments are held in Gernika.
+ info: www.euskalpilota.com
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Rural sports
Basque rural sports originate and are intimately related to the farm´s
daily labours. At their root, they are challenges between neighbours (almost
invariably involving betting) as to who is the fastest or strongest in carrying
out the daily farmer’s tasks.
Harrijasotzailea (Stone
lifting)
Understood to originate from challenges among young stonemasons. Today, different
shaped stones (square, round, rectangular, cylindrical) are used, and the
maximum weight ever lifted remains at 329 Kg. The bets can be placed on many
different aspects, such as the number of lifts, weight, or time.
Aizkolaria (Log cutting)
This may well be the most popular amomg the rural sports, due to the traditional
importance of forestry in the rural economy. The lumberjack (“aizkolari”)
has to chop a number of logs of a certain diameter against the clock.
Segalaria (Grass
mowing)
This is probably the variety most intimately linked to life in the “baserri”
(farm). Two reapers compete against each other as to who will be the fastest
to mow a specific grass area.
Sheepdog competitions
The shepherd demonstrates his mastery over his dog by ordering it to take
the sheep flock to a specified area and back, without the dog barking or attacking
the sheep.
Stone dragging by ox
The ox couple is the farmer´s pride, and a sign of his wealth. But their
value must be proved by dragging a stone weighing between 1,000 and 4,000
Kg, for a set distance and as fast as possible.
More information:
Federación Vasca de Juegos y Deportes
Tel: 94 681 81 12
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Rowing
Popular in the whole of the Cantabrian Sea, this ancient rowing boats are
manned by 13 rowers and a skipper, who also marks the rowing rythm.
Competitions are held during the Summer and can be take place in either quiet
bays or at open sea. Almost every coastal village in the north of Spain has
a rowing club, each distinguishable by the unique colour of their ship.
Bandera de La Concha
This is one of the most important tournaments of the season, and is held in
the San Sebastián bay, and followed by thousands of people every year.
+ info:
www.ligaact.com
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