Sport in Spain
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Sport in Spain in the second half of the 20th century has always been dominated by football. Other popular sport activities include basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, American football, rally, motorcycling, judo, Formula One, water sports, rhythmic gymnastics, bullfighting, golf, and skiing. Spain has also hosted a number of international events such as the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and the 1982 FIFA World Cup. With Rafael Nadal's Wimbledon championships in 2008 and 2010, the tennis team winning the Davis Cup five times (2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011), basketball team winning the 2006 World Basketball Championship and the 2019 World Basketball Championship, the FIBA EuroBasket in 2009, 2011 and in 2015, and multiple medals at the Olympic Games, Fernando Alonso's back-to-back (2005 and 2006) Formula One championships, the football team bringing home Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 trophies and Óscar Pereiro, Alberto Contador and Carlos Sastre's 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 triumphs in Tour de France more recently, several papers have looked beyond Sastre's win to claim that Spain is enjoying something of a sporting "Golden Age"-similar to the Spanish 17th century achievements in painting and literature.
History[]
Administration and funding[]
School sport[]
Popularity[]
In 2014, the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS) asked which sport or sports you participate in and which ones you are particularly interested in, even if you do not practice them. Allowing the respondent to give 3 answers to each question. [1]
Sport | Participating | Interested In |
---|---|---|
Gym | 29.3% | 10.7% |
Cycling | 19.5% | 11.1% |
Swimming | 17% | 11.9% |
Football | 14.9% | 48% |
Athletics | 7.6% | 5.7% |
Basketball | 5.1% | 17.1% |
Futsal | 4.3% | 2.1% |
Tennis | 4.1% | 21.6% |
Winter sports | 2.7% | 1.7% |
Motorcycle racing | 0.9% | 10.5% |
Auto racing | 0.4% | 8.4% |
Mountaineering | 11.4% | 3.8% |
Skating | 1.1% | 3.6% |
Handball | 0.1% | 2.6% |
Nothing | NA | 12.7% |
Host of events[]
Big events[]
- 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
- 1982 FIFA World Cup
- 1999 World Athletics Championships in Seville
World Championships[]
- Olympic sports
Competition | Sport | Place |
---|---|---|
2005 World Archery Championships | Archery | Madrid |
1986 FIBA World Championship | Basketball | |
2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup | Basketball | |
2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | Basketball | Canary Islands |
1999 ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships | Canoeing | La Seu d'Urgell |
2002 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships | Canoeing | Seville |
2013 World Aquatics Championships | Cycling | Barcelona |
1965 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | San Sebastián |
1965 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Cycling | San Sebastián |
1973 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | Barcelona |
1973 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Cycling | San Sebastián |
1984 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Cycling | Barcelona |
1992 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | Benidorm |
1992 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Cycling | Valencia |
1997 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | San Sebastián |
2000 UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships | Cycling | Sierra Nevada |
2005 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | Madrid |
2007 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | Cycling | Palma |
2014 UCI Road World Championships | Cycling | Ponferrada |
2002 FEI World Equestrian Games | Equestrian | Jerez de la Frontera |
1985 World Fencing Championships | Fencing | Barcelona |
1971 Men's Hockey World Cup | Field hockey | Barcelona |
1978 Women's Hockey World Cup | Field hockey | Madrid |
2006 Women's Hockey World Cup | Field hockey | Madrid |
1975 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships | Gymnastic | Madrid |
1985 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships | Gymnastic | Valladolid |
1993 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships | Gymnastic | Alicante |
2001 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships | Gymnastic | Madrid |
Gymnastic | Valencia | |
2013 World Men's Handball Championship | Handball | |
2021 World Women's Handball Championship | Handball | |
1991 World Judo Championships | Judo | Barcelona |
2002 World Rowing Championships | Rowing | Seville |
2004 World Rowing Championships | Rowing | Banyoles |
2003 ISAF Sailing World Championships | Sailing | Cádiz |
2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships | Sailing | Santander |
FIS Alpine World Ski Championships 1996 | Skiing | Granada |
1986 World Aquatics Championships | Swimming | Madrid |
2013 World Aquatics Championships | Swimming | Barcelona |
2005 World Taekwondo Championships | Taekwondo | Madrid |
- Other sports
Competition | Sport | Place |
---|---|---|
1952 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | San Sebastián |
1962 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | Pamplona |
1970 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | San Sebastián |
1986 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | Vitoria-Gasteiz |
2002 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | Pamplona |
2018 Basque Pelota World Championships | Basque Pelota | Barcelona |
World Chess Championship 1987 | Chess | Seville |
Futsal | ||
1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship | Futsal | |
2008 AMF Futsal Women's World Cup | Futsal | Catalonia |
2017 AMF Futsal Women's World Cup | Futsal | Catalonia |
1992 Padel World Championship | Padel | Madrid |
1996 Padel World Championship | Padel | Madrid |
2006 Padel World Championship | Padel | Murcia |
2012 Padel World Championship | Padel | Barcelona |
2013 Padel World Championship | Padel | Bilbao |
2014 Padel World Championship | Padel | Palma de Mallorca |
2015 Padel World Championship | Padel | Málaga |
1951 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Barcelona |
1954 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Barcelona |
1960 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Madrid |
1964 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Barcelona |
1972 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | A Coruña |
1976 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Oviedo |
1988 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | A Coruña |
1999 Rink Hockey World Championship | Roller hockey | Reus |
2009 Rink Hockey World Championship | Roller hockey | Vigo |
2010 FIRS Women's Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Alcobendas |
2019 Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Barcelona |
2019 Women's Roller Hockey World Cup | Roller hockey | Barcelona |
2002 Women's Rugby World Cup | Rugby | Catalonia |
1987 World Taekwondo Championships | Taekwondo | Barcelona |
Spanish sports calendar[]
- Vuelta Ciclista a España
- Volta a Catalunya
- Euskal Herriko Itzulia (Tour of Basque Country)
- Emakumeen Euskal Bira
- Clásica de San Sebastián
- Spanish Grand Prix
- Rally de Catalunya
By Sport[]
Team sports[]
Football[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Celebracion_Eurocopa_1.jpg/200px-Celebracion_Eurocopa_1.jpg)
Association football – commonly known as football (or soccer), (Spanish: Fútbol asociación) – is the most popular sport in Spain.[2] Football is a widespread passion among the people of Spain, and most people in Spain have at least some sort of connection to the sport.[3] Football is the sport with the most registered players (a total of 1,063,090 of which 997,106 are men and 77,461 women), and highest number of registered clubs (a total of 29,205) among all Spanish sport federations according to data issued by the sports administration of Spain's government in 2020.[4]
La Liga or Primera División (The Spanish League) is considered to be one of the world's best competitions. Successful teams in recent European competitions are Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia CF and Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated for much of their history, and created an intimate rivalry. Real Madrid has been dubbed by many pundits as the most successful club in the world, having won the UEFA Champions League a record 13 times, almost all other UEFA club competitions at least once, and La Liga a record 34 times. Barcelona has been European champions 5 times, and won La Liga on 26 occasions. Other teams such as Atlético Madrid, Sevilla and Valencia have also gained prominence by winning the UEFA Europa League, with 9 titles going to Spanish teams since 2004.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Spanien_-_Nationalmannschaft_20091118.jpg/200px-Spanien_-_Nationalmannschaft_20091118.jpg)
The Spain national team has been successful and has qualified for the FIFA World Cup tournament fifteen times since 1934. In 2010, Spain defeated the Netherlands in the final to win the tournament for the first time. In the European Championship they were champions in 1964, 2008 and 2012, and runners-up in 1984. Spain has won three medals in football Olympic Games tournaments. They have won two silver medals at the Sydney 2000 and at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and won a gold medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
The youth teams have also been quite successful in the last decade. The U-20 team won the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1999 and were runners-up in 1985 and 2003. The U-17 team was runners-up three times and won third place in 1997 in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Basketball[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Pau_gasol_zz.jpg/125px-Pau_gasol_zz.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Basketball_WC_2006_Final_6.jpg/150px-Basketball_WC_2006_Final_6.jpg)
The Spanish ACB is one of the major European basketball leagues. Spanish teams such as Real Madrid Baloncesto, FC Barcelona Bàsquet and Joventut Badalona have won international championships such as the Euroleague or Eurocup.
A number of Spanish players such as Pau Gasol and his younger brother Marc Gasol, Juan Hernangómez, Ricky Rubio, and naturalized Spaniard Serge Ibaka are currently playing in the NBA. Other Spanish players who have recently played in the league include Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodríguez.
The Spanish men's national basketball team has achieved a high ranked position in the international tournament by winning their first ever gold medal at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, and have hosted the 1986 FIBA World Championship and 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. also won six silver medals and three gold medals at the EuroBasket. Most recently, they won the gold medal at EuroBasket 2011, a silver at the 2012 Summer Olympics, a gold at EuroBasket 2015, a bronze at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and a gold at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The women's national team were silver medalists at the 2014 FIBA World Championship for Women (since renamed the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup) and 2016 Olympics. They have also won nine medals (three gold, one silver, five bronze) at EuroBasket Women, most recently a gold in 2017. The country finished third in the FIBA Women's World Cup in 2018.
Handball[]
The Spanish Liga ASOBAL is one of the best club competitions. A number of Spanish teams such as BM Ciudad Real, FC Barcelona Handbol, and Portland San Antonio have won or were finalists in the EHF Champions League.
Since the 1990s the men's national team has won eight medals in top class international tournaments, with three bronze medals at the Olympics, three second and a third place at the European Championships and two World Championships (2005 and 2013).
American Football[]
The Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano is the top level league in Spain and was first founded in 1988. It is divided into level of A,B,C, and regional divisions with A the top league.
Water polo[]
The Spain men's national water polo team is no stranger to the world's elite of this sport. The 1990s were a particularly successful decade for the Spanish team. Major achievements included a Silver medal at the 1992 Olympics and its greatest performance to date, winning the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.
Other remarkable performances include winning the gold medal at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships and, again, at the 2001 edition. They also took Silver at the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome. Before that, Spain had taken Silver at the 1991 edition and then again at the 1994 World Aquatics Championships.
Roller hockey (Quad)[]
Roller hockey (Quad) is played by professional athletes. The Spain national team has won the World Championship 14 times with 12 second places and 7 third places and also won the European Championship 14 times with 15 second places and 5 third places. The Spanish teams as FC Barcelona, Reus Deportiu, Igualada HC and HC Liceo La Coruña has won the European Clubs Cup in 44 editions, losing only in 7.
Rugby union[]
Volleyball[]
Beach volleyball[]
Spain featured national teams in beach volleyball that competed in the women's and men's section at the 2018–2020 CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.[5]
Baseball and softball[]
Futsal[]
Individual sports[]
Athletics[]
Athletics does not have a very high profile in Spain on a week-in week-out basis, but it leaps to prominence during major championships. Spanish Athletics Championships
Cycling[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/David_de_la_Fuente_%28Tour_de_France_-_stage_7%29.jpg/220px-David_de_la_Fuente_%28Tour_de_France_-_stage_7%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/La_Vuelta_en_Santander.jpg/220px-La_Vuelta_en_Santander.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Raga_terminando_la_zona_2007R1.jpg/220px-Raga_terminando_la_zona_2007R1.jpg)
Cycling has been an important sport in Spain since the 1940s. The Vuelta a España (Spanish for "Tour of Spain") is one of the most important cycling events in the world, together with the Tour de France (French for "Tour of France") and Giro d'Italia (Italian for "Tour of Italy") stage races, collectively known as the Grand Tours.
Several Spanish cycling athletes have won the Tour de France, including Federico Bahamontes, Luis Ocaña, Pedro Delgado, Óscar Pereiro, Alberto Contador, and Carlos Sastre. The most successful Spanish cyclist is Miguel Indurain. He won the Tour de France in five consecutive years between 1991 and 1995. He also won the Giro d'Italia in two consecutive years (1992 and 1993), the 1995 Road World Championship time trial and the gold medal in the 1996 Olympic time trial.
More recently, in 2008, Sastre became the seventh and third consecutive Spaniard to win the Tour de France, then followed by Contador winning his second tour in 2009's edition. Contador was thought to have repeated his win in 2010, but the day before Stage 17, the queen stage finishing with atop the Col du Tourmalet, Contador tested positive for performance-enhancing substance Clenbuterol. Although he claimed it was a result of consuming contaminated beef, in January 2012 the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled him guilty and gave him a two-year ban backdated from July 21, 2010, and had all his results achieved after July 21 erased, including victory in the 2010 Giro d'Italia and a 5th-place finish and most aggressive rider award for stage 19 at the 2011 Tour de France. Since returning from the ban, Contador has won the Vuelta twice, in 2012 and 2014.
Óscar Freire shares the distinction of being one of four men to win the World Road Racing Championship three times, as well as being a three-time winner of one of the most prestigious one-day classic cycle races, the Milan–San Remo. Abraham Olano won the Vuelta a España in 1998, and is the only man to win World Championships in both the road race (1995) and time trial (1998). Alejandro Valverde was the winner of the 2009 Vuelta a España, has won the one-day classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège four times, and in 2018 became World Road Race Champion after having previously finished second or third six times.
Spain has also produced some notable mountain bikers like José Antonio Hermida and track racers like Olympic medalists Joan Llaneras, José Manuel Moreno Periñán, José Antonio Escuredo or Sergi Escobar as well as multi-world champion Guillermo Timoner.
Gymnastic[]
Artistic gymnastics[]
Rhythmic gymnastic[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Patricia_Moreno_04.png/200px-Patricia_Moreno_04.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Conjunto_espa%C3%B1ol_2012_Londres_15.png/200px-Conjunto_espa%C3%B1ol_2012_Londres_15.png)
Rhythmic gymnastics is a popular sport through all Spain, so far the most successful individual rhythmic gymnasts are Carolina Pascual who won a silver medal in the individual all around competition in Barcelona 1992, Carmen Acedo who won gold medal in clubs competition in World Championships in 1993 and Almudena Cid this last is the only rhythmic gymnast who has competed at four olympic finals, placing 9th at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 being 8th at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
In the Atlanta 1996 the Spanish team won the first gold medal of the new competition by groups. The Spanish team was formed by Estela Giménez, Marta Baldó, Nuria Cabanillas, Lorena Guréndez, Estíbaliz Martínez and Tania Lamarca.
Deportista | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nuria Cabanillas[n 1] | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | |
2 | Estela Giménez | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | |
3 | Marta Baldó | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | |
4 | Estíbaliz Martínez | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
5 | Tania Lamarca | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
6 | [n 2] | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
7 | Lorena Guréndez | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
8 | Alejandra Quereda | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
9 | Sandra Aguilar | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
10 | Lourdes Mohedano | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
11 | Elena López | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | |
12 | Artemi Gavezou | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Spain has found more success in the group competition than at the individual one, the country won many medals and gained prominence in the 90's which has its peak at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta 1996, after the world championships at home in Seville 1998 the group went downhill and had inconsistent results until 2012 when they finished at the 4th place at the Olympic Games in 2012 London Olympics and a performance they would repeat at the 2013 World Championships in Kyiv where the Spanish group won the gold at the 10 clubs final and a bronze in the 3 balls + 2 ribbons final, their firsts world championships medals in 15 years, at the 2014 World Championships in Izmir, Turkey they retained their world title in the 10 clubs final. At the 2015 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Stuttgart, Germany the group won the bronze medal at the all around competition, since 1998 the Spanish group hasn't won an all around medal.
Also for the first time in 9 years the country classified two gymnast for the individual all-around final, Natalia Garcia who finished in the 19th spot and Carolina Rodriguez who got the 11th place.
Triathlon[]
Tennis[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Rafael_Nadal_holding_the_2008_Rogers_Cup_trophy2.jpg/220px-Rafael_Nadal_holding_the_2008_Rogers_Cup_trophy2.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/MSantana.jpg/150px-MSantana.jpg)
Spain has produced a number of tennis champions, in particular excelling in tournaments held on clay courts such as the French Open, a Grand Slam tournament.
Spain has won the Davis Cup six times (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2019) and the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) five times (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998).
Rafael Nadal is widely regarded as the greatest Spanish tennis player of all time and generally considered one of the best players ever. He has won the French Open a record thirteen times. After defeating then world number one Roger Federer, Nadal claimed the Wimbledon trophy in 2008. He has won the 2009 Australian Open, the first male Spaniard to do so. In 2009, he became the first player ever to simultaneously hold Grand Slam titles on clay, grass, and hardcourt. In addition, Nadal is the gold medalist at 2008 Summer Olympics. As of 2022, he has won an all-time record of 21 Grand Slam titles, the most among ATP players.
Spain has produced several other world number one players such as Arantxa Sánchez Vicario in 1995 (a 3 times French Open champion in 1989, 1994 and 1998 and 1994 US Open Champion), Carlos Moyá in 1999 (1998 French Open champion) Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003 (2003 French Open Champion) and Garbiñe Muguruza in 2017 (2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon).
Other Grand Slam champions include Manuel Santana (1961,1964 French Opens, 1966 Wimbledon and 1965 US Open), Sergi Bruguera (1993–94 French Opens), Andrés Gimeno (1972 French Open), Conchita Martínez (1994 Wimbledon) and Albert Costa (2002 French Open).
Other notable top 10 players from Spain include #2 Àlex Corretja, #3 David Ferrer, #5 Tommy Robredo, #7 Juan Aguilera, #7 Emilio Sánchez (older brother of Arantxa Sánchez Vicario), #7 Alberto Berasategui, #7 Fernando Verdasco, #10 Carlos Costa, #10 Félix Mantilla, Lilí Álvarez or Manuel Alonso.
Tournaments held in Spain on the men's tour every year are Madrid, Barcelona and Mallorca. The women have an event in Madrid.
Motorsports[]
Auto racing[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Alonso_%28Renault%29_qualifying_at_USGP_2005.jpg/200px-Alonso_%28Renault%29_qualifying_at_USGP_2005.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Carlos_Sainz_-_2004_Cyprus_Rally.jpg/150px-Carlos_Sainz_-_2004_Cyprus_Rally.jpg)
In Formula One the two world championships of Fernando Alonso, in 2005 and 2006, have made the sport popular in Spain. It was, until 2012, the only country to host two Grands Prix, the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona and the European Grand Prix on the Valencia Street Circuit, which was discontinued for 2013.
In the World Rally Championship Spanish rally driver Carlos Sainz was crowned world champion in 1990 and 1992 and is ranked third with most wins with 26. Sainz retired from WRC in 2005 and switched to rally raid, where he won the 2010 Dakar Rally. Daniel Sordo has achieved best results since then by finishing third in the World Rally Championship in 2008 and 2009.
In endurance racing, Fermín Vélez is two-time 12 Hours of Sebring winner and two-time World Sportscar Championship Group C2 champion, Marc Gené won the 2009 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2010 12 Hours of Sebring, and Antonio García won the 2009 24 Hours of Daytona. Fernando Alonso won the 2018-2019 FIA WEC World Championship, taking wins at the 2018 and 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also won the 2019 24 Hours of Daytona.
Motorcycle racing[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Dani_Pedrosa.jpg/100px-Dani_Pedrosa.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Marc_M%C3%A1rquez._GP_de_San_Marino_2018_%2842723709600%29.jpg/200px-Marc_M%C3%A1rquez._GP_de_San_Marino_2018_%2842723709600%29.jpg)
Spain has hosted four Grand Prix motorcycle racing events. They include the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spanish Grand Prix, the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix, and the Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix. Most events have received high attendance numbers.
Notable Spanish grand prix motorcycling riders include Dani Pedrosa, Nicolás Terol, Álvaro Bautista, Emilio Alzamora, three-time MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo and five-time champion Marc Márquez. Notable retired racers include Àlex Crivillé, Jorge Martínez Aspar, Sete Gibernau, Sito Pons, and Ángel Nieto. Away from the track, Laia Sanz has won multiple women's world titles in motorcycle trials and enduro as well as several wins in the female class of the Dakar Rally. In 2018 Ana Carrasco became the first female motorcyclist to win a world title when she became Supersport 300 World Champion.
Canoeing[]
Golf[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Golf3.jpg/200px-Golf3.jpg)
Golf has become popular among the Spanish. There are a number of courses located in different parts of Spain. They include the San Roque, Sotogrande, Valderrama, and Alcaidesa. Spain hosted the 1997 Ryder Cup.
Spanish golfer Seve Ballesteros won the U.S. Masters Tournament twice, and the British Open three times. José María Olazábal has won two Masters titles. Sergio García[6] spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings (over 250 weeks between 2000 and 2008) and won the 2017 Masters. In the women's game, Spain fielded the winning team in the inaugural International Crown in 2014.
Boxing[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Paulino_Uzkudun.jpg/170px-Paulino_Uzkudun.jpg)
Combart Sports[]
Judo[]
Karate[]
Taewkondo[]
Water sports[]
Swimming[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/%28Mireia_Belmonte%29_XII_Prix_Di%C3%A1logo_%2818675968451%29.jpg/200px-%28Mireia_Belmonte%29_XII_Prix_Di%C3%A1logo_%2818675968451%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Meca.jpg/200px-Meca.jpg)
Synchronized swimming[]
During the 2000s, Spanish swimmer Gemma Mengual has heralded a series of both individual and team medals for Spain in all the major international synchronized swimming tournaments, including the silver medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Mengual's coach, Ana Tarrés, who herself represented Spain in the sport at the 1984 Summer Olympics, also served as coach of the national team from 1997 to 2012: during her time in charge the team enjoyed great success, taking four Olympic medals, 26 World Championship medals, and 25 European Championship medals.[7] Other Spanish synchronised swimmers to enjoy success in international competition since the emergence of Mengual include Paola Tirados, Andrea Fuentes, the most decorated swimmer in the history of the Spain national team,[8] Ona Carbonell and Margalida Crespí.
Dyving[]
Skiing[]
Skiing is a popular sport. In the past, this sport was under development for economic reasons. However the improvement of the economy of Spain, helped skiing become an active sport event. It has become popular, and the skiing sites have been modernized in recent years. In Spain the southernmost ski resort of Europe, Sierra Nevada, is located. Skiing is one of the favourite sports of the Spanish Royal Family.
Spain has enjoyed some success in competitive alpine skiing. Skiers who have won races in the Alpine Skiing World Cup include Carolina Ruiz Castillo, María José Rienda, and siblings Blanca and Francisco Fernández Ochoa. The Fernández Ochoas are the only Spanish athletes to have won medals at the Winter Olympics, with Francisco winning a gold medal in the men's slalom in the 1972 Winter Olympics and Blanca winning a bronze in the women's equivalent twenty years later.
- Ski resorts in Spain
Ice sports[]
Ice skating[]
Skeleton[]
Other olympic sports[]
Archery[]
Badminton[]
Climbing[]
Equestrian sports[]
Horseracing[]
Eventting and showjumping[]
Fencing[]
Modern pentathlon[]
Rowing[]
Sailing[]
Royal Spanish Sailing Federation
Shooting[]
Skatebording[]
Surf[]
Table tennis[]
Wrestling[]
Other sports[]
Basque pelota[]
Basque pelota
Basque rural sports[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Harrijasotzaile.jpg/150px-Harrijasotzaile.jpg)
Beach football[]
Spain national beach soccer team
Beach handball[]
Bowling[]
Birlos celtas
Chess[]
Linares International Chess Tournament
Mountaineering[]
Padel[]
Trainera[]
Kontxako Bandera
Valencian pelota[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Restant-galotxa.jpg/200px-Restant-galotxa.jpg)
Valencian pilota is a traditional Valencian sports. Tournaments includes trinquete, Trofeu Individual Bancaixa, Circuit Bancaixa, raspall singles championship, and raspall team championship.
Wrestling[]
Canarian wrestling[]
Leonese wrestling[]
Disability sport[]
Spain at the Paralympics[]
Major sports factilities[]
National stadia[]
Image | Stadium | Capacity | City | Sport | Inaugurated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Estadio Nacional Complutense | 10,000 | ![]() |
Rugby union | 1943 |
Club football grounds[]
The following is a list of stadiums with greater capacity.
Camp Nou | Santiago Bernabéu Stadium | Metropolitano Stadium | Estadio Benito Villamarín | Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys |
---|---|---|---|---|
Barcelona | Madrid | Madrid | Seville | Barcelona |
1982 FIFA World Cup | 1982 FIFA World Cup | 2019 UEFA Champions League Final | 1982 FIFA World Cup | 1992 Summer Olympic |
Capacity: 99,354 | Capacity: 81,044 | Capacity: 68,456 | Capacity: 60,721 | Capacity: 60,713 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||
Estadio de La Cartuja |
|
San Mamés Stadium | ||
Seville | Bilbao | |||
1999 World Athletics Championship | 1982 FIFA World Cup Stadium | |||
Capacity: 57,619 | Capacity: 53,289 | |||
![]() |
![]() | |||
Mestalla Stadium | Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium | |||
Valencia | Seville | |||
1982 FIFA World Cup | 1982 FIFA World Cup | |||
Capacity: 48,600 | Capacity: 43,883 | |||
![]() | ||||
RCDE Stadium | Anoeta Stadium | Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero | La Romareda | Estadio Riazor |
Cornellà de Llobregat | Donostia | Elche | Zaragoza | A Coruña |
2020 UEFA Women's Champions League Final | 1982 FIFA World Cup | 1982 FIFA World Cup | 1982 FIFA World Cup | |
Capacity: 40,000 | Capacity: 39,500 | Capacity: 33,732 | Capacity: 33,608 | Capacity: 32,660 |
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Indoor arenas[]
The following is a list of indoor arenas in Spain, ordered by capacity.
Image | Stadium | Capacity | City | Autonomous Community |
Team | Inaugurated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Palau Sant Jordi | 17,960 | Barcelona | ![]() |
None | 1990 |
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WiZink Center | 17,453 | Madrid | ![]() |
Estudiantes Real Madrid |
2005 |
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Fernando Buesa Arena | 15,504[9] | Vitoria-Gasteiz | ![]() |
Baskonia | 1991 |
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Bizkaia Arena | 15,414[10] | Barakaldo | ![]() |
None | 2004 |
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Olímpic de Badalona | 12,760 | Badalona | ![]() |
Joventut Badalona | 1991 |
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Caja Mágica | 12,442 | Madrid | ![]() |
None | 2009 |
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Gran Canaria Arena | 11,470 | Las Palmas | ![]() |
CB Gran Canaria | 2014 |
Coliseum da Coruña | 11,000 | A Coruña | ![]() |
None | 1991 | |
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Martín Carpena | 11,000 | Málaga | ![]() |
Unicaja | 1999 |
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Donostia Arena | 11,000[11] | San Sebastián | ![]() |
Gipuzkoa Basket | 1998 |
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Pabellón Príncipe Felipe | 10,744 | Zaragoza | ![]() |
Basket Zaragoza | 1990 |
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Madrid Arena | 10,500 | Madrid | ![]() |
None | 2002 |
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San Pablo | 10,200 | Sevilla | ![]() |
Baloncesto Sevilla | 1999 |
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Bilbao Arena | 10,014[12] | Bilbao | ![]() |
Bilbao Basket | 2010 |
Athletics stadiums[]
Image | Stadium | Capacity | City | Inaugurated | Big event |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys | 60,713 | ![]() |
1927 | 1992 Summer Olympics |
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Estadio de La Cartuja | 57,619 | ![]() |
1999 | 1999 World Championships in Athletics |
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Visit Mallorca Stadium | 23,142 | ![]() |
1999 | 1999 Summer Universiade |
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Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos | 21,350 | ![]() |
2004 | 2005 Mediterranean Games |
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Estadio de Vallehermoso | 9,000 | ![]() |
1957 | Meeting de Atletismo Madrid |
Club rugby grounds[]
Image | Stadium | Capacity | City | Team | Inaugurated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6,000 | ![]() |
Getxo RT | 2022 | ||
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Estadio Pepe Rojo | 5,000 | ![]() |
CR El Salvador Valladolid RAC |
1981 |
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Estadi Baldiri Aleu | 4,000 | ![]() |
UE Santboiana | 1950 |
Instalaciones deportivas La Cartuja | 1,932 | ![]() |
Ciencias Sevilla CR | 1999 | |
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Miniestadio de Anoeta | 1,262 | ![]() |
Bera Bera RT | 1993 |
Other grounds[]
Image | Ground (sport) | Capacity | City | Inaugurated | Big event |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Estadio José Zorrilla (rugby) | 27,846 | ![]() |
1982 | 1982 FIFA World Cup Copa del Rey de Rugby: 2016, |
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Estadio Municipal de Chapín (equestrianism) | 20,523 | ![]() |
1988 | 2002 FEI World Equestrian Games |
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Hipódromo de la Zarzuela (horse racing) | 17,000 | ![]() |
1941 | 1992 Summer Olympic Games |
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Palau Blaugrana (various sports) | 7,585 | ![]() |
1971 | 1992 Summer Olympic Games |
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Palacio de Deportes de Murcia (futsal) | 7,454 | ![]() |
1994 | 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship |
Palacio Multiusos de Guadalajara (handball) | 5,894 | ![]() |
2010 | 2013 World Men's Handball Championship | |
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Centro Insular de Deportes (volleyball) | 5,200 | ![]() |
5,200 | Copa del Rey de Voleibol |
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Pazo dos Deportes de Riazor (rink hockey) | 4,425 | ![]() |
1970 | Roller Hockey World Cup: 1988, 1972 |
Piscina Municipal de Montjuïc (swimming) | 4,100 | ![]() |
1929 | 1992 Summer Olympic Games 2003 World Aquatics Championships 2013 World Aquatics Championships | |
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(basque pelota) | 3,000 | ![]() |
2011 | Bare-handed Pelota First League |
Motosports circuits[]
Image | Race track | Location | Opened | Major events | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | ![]() |
1991 | Spanish Grand Prix (Formula One) Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) World Superbike |
140,700 |
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MotorLand Aragón | ![]() |
2009 | Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) World Superbike |
129,500 |
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Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto | ![]() |
1985 | Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) World Superbike |
125,000 |
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Circuito Ricardo Tormo | ![]() |
1999 | Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) | 165,000 |
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Circuito de Navarra | ![]() |
2010 | World Superbike |
Velodromes[]
Image | Stadium | Capacity | City | Inaugurated | Big events |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Las Mestas Sports Complex | 10,000 | ![]() |
1942 | ||
Palma Arena | 6,607 | ![]() |
2007 | 2007 UCI Track Cycling World Championships | |
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Velódromo Luis Puig | 6,500 | ![]() |
1992 | 1992 UCI Track Cycling World Championships |
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Velódromo de Anoeta | 5,500 | ![]() |
1965 | 1965 UCI Track Cycling World Championships |
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Velòdrom d'Horta | 3,200 | ![]() |
1984 | 1992 Summer Olympics 1984 UCI Track Cycling World Championships |
Golf courses[]
Image | Course | Location | Opened | Length | Par | Course rating | Slope rating | Major events |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valderrama Golf Club | ![]() |
1974 | 6,390 m (6,990 yd) |
71 | 76.1 | 147 | Ryder Cup: 1997 |
Ski resort[]
Alpine skiing
|
Nordic skiing
|
See also[]
- Spanish Badminton Federation
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ [1]
- ^ Ashton, Joseph (2009). "THE PHENOMENON OF FÚTBOL IN SPAIN: A STUDY OF FÚTBOL IN SPANISH POLITICS, LITERATURE AND FILM". etd.ohiolink.edu. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
- ^ "Spanish football: Well red". The Economist. 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2013-10-07.
- ^ "Memory 2020. Licensing and clubs (Document in Spanish)" (PDF). Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD)(Sports Council). Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Continental Cup Finals start in Africa". FIVB. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Garcia aims for Spanish hat-trick". BBC News. 2008-07-15. Retrieved 2014-03-22.
- ^ ""¡Fuera del agua, gorda!"" [“Out of the water, fatty!”]. El País (in Spanish). 25 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
- ^ Torres, Diego (26 January 2013). "Andrea Fuentes se retira de la natación sincronizada" [Andrea Fuentes retires from synchronized swimming]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ "ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
Pabellón: Fernando Buesa Arena (15.504 espectadores)
- ^ "ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
Pabellón: Bizkaia Arena (15.414 espectadores)
- ^ "ACB.COM". www.acb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2017.
Pabellón: San Sebastián Arena 2016 (11.000 espectadores)
- ^ "Bilbao Arena". Archived from the original on 2014-05-09. Retrieved 2013-05-31.
External links[]
- Sport in Spain