Sport in Venezuela
The major sports in Venezuela are
In international competitions, Venezuela has participated in the
Venezuela participates in the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games, with Caracas hosting these games in 1959 and 1983, respectively. Venezuela has had a Davis Cup team since 1957.
Though golf is a minor sport in Venezuela, the emergence of Jhonattan (Johnny) Vegas on the PGA Tour in 2011 and his strong showing as a rookie there has raised its profile.
Baseball
History
On October 22, 1941, the Venezuelan
The Venezuela national baseball team won the Baseball World Cup several times in the 1940s, and the Baseball tournament at the Pan American Games in 1959. Venezuela has also participated in every edition of the World Baseball Classic since its inaugural season, in 2006, and reached the bronze medal in 2009.
Venezuelan players in US-Canadian Major League Baseball number over 200 since 1939. The Luis Aparicio Award was established in 2004, in honor of Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan ballplayer to have been introduced into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. The award is given annually to honor the Venezuelan player who recorded the best individual performance in Major League Baseball, as voted on by sports journalists in Venezuela.
Baseball stadiums in Venezuela with a capacity of at least 10,000
Stadium | Capacity | City | Tenants |
---|---|---|---|
Estadio Monumental de Caracas Simón Bolívar |
40,000 | Caracas | Leones del Caracas |
Estadio La Ceiba | 30,000 | Ciudad Guayana | |
Estadio Luis Aparicio "El Grande" | 23,900 | Maracaibo | Águilas del Zulia |
Estadio Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez | 22,000 | Barquisimeto | Cardenales de Lara |
Estadio Universitario |
20,723 | Caracas | |
Stadium Nueva Esparta | 18,000 | Porlamar | Bravos de Margarita |
Estadio Alfonso Chico Carrasquel | 18,000 | Puerto La Cruz | Caribes de Anzoátegui |
Estadio José Bernardo Pérez | 16,000 | Valencia |
Navegantes del Magallanes |
Estadio Fórum La Guaira | 14,300 | Macuto | Tiburones de La Guaira |
Estadio Rafael Calles Pinto | 13,000 | Guanare | Llaneros de Guanare |
Estadio José Pérez Colmenares | 12,647 | Maracay | Tigres de Aragua |
Football
History
Venezuela football has had a rough history throughout the years, especially with its national team, and have been looked at as pushovers. The team is known as "La Vinotinto" (The Red Wine) due to their dark burgundy jerseys showcasing the same dark color as red wine (shown in the adjacent picture).
The next season, a new head coach was chosen by the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF). The new coach was Richard Páez, he was a former Venezuelan football player. He coached the Vinotinto until the beginning of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers where he unexpectedly resigned.[6] In his time as head coach he revolutionized the team with the help of a younger and newer players, helping them become a winning team instead of being known as the "whipping boys." He led the team to its first ever victory over Uruguay, who then fired their head coach for the loss. After the famous 3–0 win, Páez said that "as a country, we have earned the right to savor this triumph after thirty six years of humiliation".[6] In 2007 the Copa América tournament was held in Venezuela where the Vinotinto won its second ever match in the tournament. They went on to be undefeated, winning their bracket, until losing the quarter-finals to Uruguay 4–1.[6] The tournament was a huge success in bringing the country closer to the National Team. It is said for, a brief moment, football the nations favorite sport.[6] This new enthusiasm towards the team also brought higher expectations of the team as well. When coach Páez resigned, he was replaced with César Farías where he continued Páez's revolution of the National team. He currently is coaching the team and has also helped the youth of Venezuela football players increasing the intensity of play at each level which produces better players for the Vinotinto.[6] Some experts felt that the 2014 World Cup would bring the best and closest chance for the "Vinotinto" to become prominent again at that level.[6]
An under-20 team, an under-17 team, and a women's team also compete.
Football stadiums in Venezuela with a capacity of at least 30,000
Stadium | Capacity | City | Home team |
---|---|---|---|
Estadio Monumental de Maturín | 52,000 | Maturín | Monagas Sport Club
|
Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara |
47,913 | Barquisimeto | Unión Lara
|
Estadio Metropolitano de Mérida | 42,200 | Mérida | Estudiantes de Mérida FC
|
Polideportivo Cachamay | 41,600 | Ciudad Guayana | Atlético Club Mineros de Guayana
|
Estadio José Pachencho Romero | 40,800 | Maracaibo | Unión Atlético Maracaibo |
Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo | 38,755 | San Cristóbal | Deportivo Táchira Fútbol Club
|
Estadio José Antonio Anzoátegui | 37,485 | Puerto la Cruz |
Deportivo Anzoátegui
|
Basketball
Behind
The
Venezuela basketball venues with a capacity of at least 10,000
City | Venue | Date built | Capacity | Tenants |
---|---|---|---|---|
Barquisimeto | Domo Bolivariano
|
1982 | 10,000 | Guaros de Lara |
Valencia
|
Forum de Valencia | 1991 | 10,000 |
Beach volleyball
Venezuela featured national teams in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 CSV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in both the women's and the men's sections.[9]
Boxing
Boxing is a popular sport in Venezuela, with the country having produced several Olympic medalists and professional world champions. Well-known boxers include
Bullfighting
Corrida de toros, or bullfighting, in Venezuela is said not to be very popular.[2] Also, bullfighting is considered to be more of an art form that the Spanish colonists brought with them, but is still also considered a sport.[2] The modern sport started, in Venezuela, during the 19th century, with the Spaniards' arrival.[10] The industry started from the city of San Cristóbal. The first bullrings were built of wood and didn't have many seats, but they eventually grew to the modern "large bullring," such as the Nuevo de Caracas that was built in 1968.[2] The industry now has 55 bullrings, more than twenty-five breeding farms for bullfighting bulls, and two schools to teach prospective future bullfighters how to fight the bulls. Festivals were normally held in honor of the patron saint or Virgin.[2] Two of the most important festivals held are the Feria de San Cristóbal and The Feria de Sol (Festival of the Sun).[2] These festivals have one week where each night there is an event with about four or five matadors, the "bullfighters," and an equal number of bulls.[2] Even though these are two big events, bullfighting happens in these two places all year long.[10] The quality of a bullfight, and how exciting the event is, is based upon the strength and power of the bull plus the skill of the matador.[2] Bullfighting is legal in Venezuela because there is no national or state animal protection legislation that prevents animal cruelty.[10]
Bullfighting stadiums in Venezuela with a capacity of at least 10,000
Bullring | Location | Capacity | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Plaza de toros Monumental de Valencia
|
Valencia, Venezuela | 24,708 | |
Plaza Monumental Román Eduardo Sandia | Mérida, Venezuela | 16,000 | |
Plaza de toros Monumental de Maracaibo
|
Maracaibo, Venezuela | 15,000 | |
Plaza Monumental de toros de Pueblo Nuevo | San Cristóbal, Venezuela | 15,000 |
Coleo
Although baseball, basketball, and football are the top three sports, popularity-wise, in Venezuela,[
Cycling
- Major events: Clasico Ciclistico Banfoandes, Venezuelan National Road Race Championships, and 1977 UCI Road World Championships
Golf
- Major events: Copa Tres Diamantes and Venezuela Open
Vegas turned professional in 2008 and started playing the Nationwide tour in 2009.
Vegas represented Venezuela in the
In 2011, Vegas, competing as Johnny Vegas, won the
The sport has come under criticism from, and courses have been closed by, President Hugo Chávez. "Several years ago, Chávez closed three courses in the Vegas family's home state, Monagas. All were essentially clubs for workers in the nation's wealthy oil industry. Vegas's father, Carlos, who at one time worked as a caddie and later became a food concessionaire to two of the clubs, decided his son would have to leave Venezuela if he were to pursue golf seriously. ... [Chávez] has called it a 'bourgeois sport' played primarily by lazy, rich people in carts. He has closed six of the country's courses and said the government should appropriate private urban land for public housing. 'Do you mean to tell me this is a people's sport?' he said in 2009. 'It is not.' ... After Vegas won the Hope Classic, Chávez, who has not, it is believed, put buildings on any of the courses, proclaimed that he was not 'an enemy of golf, or any other sport.' He said he would call to congratulate Vegas. 'He beat all of the gringos,' he said. ... Vegas talked about having spoken with Chávez, and what he [Vegas] hopes will come about as a result of the chat: perhaps a friendlier attitude toward the sport."[13]
The Caracas Country Club, associated with the United States and the oil industry and designed in the 1920s by the
Martial arts
El Juego del Garrote
Motorsport
There are two important venues for motorsport activity in the country:
Venezuela has produced some notable competitors in motorsport.
After Cecotto's breakthrough fellow Venezuelans Carlos Lavado and Iván Palazzese also made an impact in Grand Prix motorcycling. Lavado scored 19 Grand Prix wins in the 250cc and 350cc classes and won the 250cc world championship in 1983. Palazzese scored consecutive wins in the 125cc class in the Swedish and Finnish Grands Prix in 1982 on his way to finishing third in the 125cc standings.
More recently
Venezuelan racers have also competed in top-level motorsport in North America in recent years, including E. J. Viso and Milka Duno.
Rugby union
Rugby union is a popular team sport in Venezuela. Rugby union is considered the fourth most popular sport in Venezuela, after baseball, football, and basketball.
Swimming
Swimming is a growing sport in Venezuela. Notable Venezuelan swimmers include:
- Crox Acuna
- Patricia Maldonado
- Ricardo Monasterio
- Nelson Mora
- Andreina Pinto
- Yanel Pinto
- Oswaldo Quevedo
- Luis Rojas
- Francisco Sanchez
- Arlene Semeco
- Albert Subirats
- Rafael Vidal
- Erin Volcan
Tennis
Notable Venezuelan tennis players include:
- Jorge Andrew
- Juan Carlos Bianchi
- José de Armas
- Alfonso Mora
- Gabriela Paz Franco
- Nicolás Pereira
- Maurice Ruah
- Milagros Sequera
- Jimy Szymanski
- Daniel Vallverdu
- María Vento-Kabchi
Medals by games
- As of the 2019 Parapan American Games
Global medals
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela at the Universiade | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Venezuela at the World Games | 5 | 7 | 11 | 23 |
Venezuela at the Youth Olympic Games | 2 | 8 | 5 | 15 |
Totals (8 entries) | 27 | 44 | 67 | 138 |
Regional medals
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela at the Pan American Games | 102 | 220 | 296 | 618 |
Venezuela at the Parapan American Games | 70 | 78 | 112 | 260 |
Totals (2 entries) | 172 | 298 | 408 | 878 |
Sub regional medals
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela at the South American Beach Games | 15 | 31 | 22 | 68 |
Venezuela at the South American Games | 535 | 469 | 500 | 1504 |
Venezuela at the South American Para Games | 34 | 24 | 21 | 79 |
Venezuela at the South American Youth Games | 33 | 53 | 52 | 138 |
Totals (4 entries) | 617 | 577 | 595 | 1789 |
Inter regional medals
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela at the Ibero American Games | 8 | 4 | 6 | 18 |
Totals (4 entries) | 2863 | 2749 | 2541 | 8153 |
See also
- Venezuela national baseball team
- Venezuela national football team
- Venezuela national basketball team
- Venezuela national rugby union team
- Lists of stadiums
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8032-1571-9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nichols, Elizabeth Gackstetter., and Kimberly J. Morse. Venezuela. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010. Print.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ Ferguson, Alex. "Venezuela Football: A Brief History". World Soccer. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
- ^ a b Ferguson, Alex. "Venezuelan Football: A Brief History." http://www.worldsoccer.com. N.p., 2 July 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2012. <http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/venezuelan-football-a-brief-history>
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Ferguson, Alex. "Venezuela's Football Revolution." In Bed With Maradona. In Bed With Maradona, 3 July 2011. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. <http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2011/7/3/venezuelas-football-revolution.html>
- ^ Most Popular Sports in Venezuela, mostpopularsports.net, accessed 25 January 2012.
- ^ FIBA Ranking for Men, fiba.com , accessed 25 January 2013
- FIVB. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Venezuela." Venezuela. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. http://www.cas-international.org/en/home/suffering-of-bulls-and-horses/bullfighting/venezuela/
- ^ ISBN 978-1-59884-569-3.
- ^ a b Romero, Simon (Sep 2006). "Venezuela's Passion: Twisting the Tail of an Angry Beast". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
- ^ a b Dorman, Larry, "Venezuelan Rises on Tour After His Homeland Rejects Golf", The New York Times, February 1, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-01.
- ^ Romero, Simon, Sandra La Fuente P. contributed reporting, "A Venezuelan Oasis of Elitism Counts Its Days", The New York Times, December 27, 2010 (December 28, 2010, p. A1 NY ed.). Retrieved 2010-12-28.