Sport in Argentina
Argentina is renowned not only for its stunning landscapes and vibrant culture but also for its fierce competitive spirit, especially in the world of sports. Argentinians take immense pride in their sports achievements, and competition plays a significant role in their national identity. The country has produced some of the world’s most iconic athletes, particularly in football (soccer), which is practically a religion in Argentina.
Street football in Argentina Football was introduced to the public by British soldiers in the 60's, is the nationally recognized favorite sport. Legends like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have elevated Argentina’s status on the global sports stage, leading their national football team to numerous victories, including World Cup titles in 1978, 1986, and 2022, and runner-up in 1930, 1990 and 2014.
In addition to football, volleyball, boxing, basketball, rugby, hockey and tennis are quite popular.
Argentina's national rugby team, the Pumas, has become a force to be reckoned with on the global stage, making deep runs in the Rugby World Cup.
The National basketball team has also made a lot of impact on the international stage, beating the US Dream Team in the Athens Olympic Games and a consistent finalist in the Basketball World Cup.
Pato (duck) is a traditional Argentine sport normally played on horseback which was banned in the late 19th century because it became quite dangerous. However, the sport made a comeback in the 1930's with a revised list of rules.
Argentina has produced some of the best names in tennis like Guillermo Vilas who made a splash in the tennis world in the 1970's to the early 1980's, Sabatini in the 1990's and today, names like David Nalbandian, Guillermo Coria and Juan Martin del Potro are gaining notoriety.
Argentine drivers are also known in the race-car circuit like Carlos Reutemann and Juan Manuel Fangio who was a five-time world champion in the 50's.
Below are details of sports, sporting events and sports people related to Colombia.
Popular sports of Argentina
- Football (Soccer), basketball, volleyball, boxing, basketball, rugby, hockey, tennis, polo, Padel tennis, motorsports.
Traditional or Regional Sports
- Pato (duck) — a cross between Polo and Basketball played on horseback.
- Cestoball — an Argentinian female sport similar to netball.
- Tejo (Argentina) — a sport from Argentina in which two teams throw colored metal discs to land as close as possible to a neutal disc.
Argentinian Sporting Success
- The national football team has won the FIFA World Cup twice (1978, 1986)
- Juan Manuel Fangio who was a five-time world champion in the 50's.
- The national men's basketball team won gold at the Athens Olympic Games, after beating the Dream Team in the semifinals and Italy in the final. Argentina also won the football gold medal the same year.
Great athletes from Argentina
- Diego Maradona (football)
- Lionel Messi (football)
- Guillermo Vilas (tennis)
- Gabriela Sabatini (tennis)
Argentina Sports trivia
- Argentinian team won the first Olympic gold medal in polo in 1924
- In 2012, Argentina joined New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in the Tri Nations Championship, which then became The Rugby Championship
Argentina at major events
- Argentina at the Summer Olympics
- Argentina at the Winter Olympics
- Argentina at the FIFA World Cup
- Argentina at the Rugby World Cup
- Argentina women's football team at the FIFA Women's World Cup
- Argentina at the Copa América
Past sporting events hosted in Argentina
- 1951 the First Pan American Games
- 1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina
- 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.
Upcoming sporting events in Argentina
Annual sporting events held in Argentina
- Argentina Open tennis event - held in February every year
- Buenos Aires Marathon - the biggest marathon in the southern hemisphere takes place every spring.
- Argentine Open Polo Tournament - one of the world's greatest polo tournament, held in November-December.
- Argentine Republic Prize - held in April (horse racing)
- Grand National - held in November (horse racing)
Sporting Facilities in Argentina
- El Monumental - The country's largest sporting stadium, in Buenos Aires. It is home of the football club River Plate and also the Argentina national football team.
Other
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