Sport in contemporary history(and its origins in Spain & Catalonia)

Ses 09

Sports and SocietyXavier Carmaniu Mainadé

Characterics of modern sportStarted in England in 18th – 19th century.Sport is an activity with rules that players

have to know and follow.It’s a competitive activity.Sports are structured in clubs and

organizations.Majority of sports come from ancient and

traditional activities (entertainment games).After the UK, sports expanded to Europe.

Timeline of 19th century in SpainPolitically unestable century (a lot of military

coups)1808-1814: Napoleon War. 1814-1833: Fernando VII (absolutism).1833-1868: Isabel II (stability).1868-1874: Sexenio Democrático

(progressive era).1873: 1st Republic (just 11 months, 4

presidents).1875: “Restauración” (Restoration of the

monarchy) (Alfonso XII).

A way of lifeIn spanish also the word

was sport” (no “deporte”).

Not just a practice it was a way of life.

Sport was associated with:modernity.High cultural level.Technical innovations.

Cyclist (1890)

Reasons for the expansion of sportIndustrialization cities + middle-class

(burgeoisie).Liberal politics (new political ideas).International comercial relationships.

Foreigners + natives with modern interests = burgeoisie

Domestic Expansion: from exclusive minority to the majority.

Sport gave the possibility to jump social classes.

Sport in Catalonia and Spain

The bourgeoisie: the key to the processSocial class linked

with industrialization.

They were the elite not the aristocrats.

Economic power.High cultural level.New ways to spend

free time in the cities.

The city: the necessary spaceSport can only happen with human

participation. Demographical growth and urban

modernisation (city walls taken down).New ways to spend time in urban spaces

(entertainment culture).Physical activity is seen as a life style for

modern countries. Main cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Bilbao.

Smaller cities as well (after).

Barcelona, city walls & Cerdà

What sports were practiced? Gyms appeared first.

Two types:Groups of people

created a gym.Private businesses that

charged for its services.

They were a high class space used for socializing.

Also used to promote health.

Before 1914, there were 60 different sport associations.

The 5 most popular sports in this time were:Soccer (the most popular).Cycling.Tennis.Nautic sports.Hiking.

Nautic sports

Cycling

The first steps

Ad from a newspaper Cádiz, 1868

The “Dandy Horse”.1850sWood structure + metallic wheels.22 kgs. (48,5 pounds)Without pedals.Velocity: 13kms/ h. (8 miles /h.)

Penny Farthing models

Cycling RIDING A BIKE HAD A LOT OF

MEANINGS: Social Distinction (they were

expensive machines). It paid attention to modern

interests (bike was the last modern invention).

First bike just for sport, but also used as a form of transport (It’s the same as motorbikes, cars and planes).

Cycling was the first sport that appeared on the streets: this allowed sports to be viewed on the streets.

“safety bicycle”1885, John Kemp

Sartley.The 2 wheels were

the same size.Chain on the back

wheel.Sartley didn’t patent

the invention, so it became popular.

1888 John Dunlop invented tires.

1885: Sociedad Velocipédica de Madrid.

1887 similar clubs in Barcelona, Lleida, Oviedo and Vigo.

1890 "El Ciclista", first sport magazine in Barcelona.

6 ciclyng clubs existed in Madrid by in 1896.

Tenis

Evolution begin in 1859 from a mix of different traditional sports.

1872 the first tennis club in England was founded.

1877 Wimbledon started.

1888 Universal Exhibit of Barcelona organized friendly matches.

Intellectuals & tennis1900-1930 a lot of catalan intellectuals

played tennis:Pau (Pablo) Casals, musician.Josep Carner, poet.J. V. Foix, poet.Pompeu Fabra, linguistics (author of catalan

grammar).Before 1939 (civil war) the catalan culture

was modern and european (and sport was very popular).

Pompeu Fabrab. 1868 – d. 1945.Father of modern

catalan grammar. 1932 Dictionary of

Catalan.Died in the exile

(escaping Franco’s Dictatorship).

Poetry and tennisJOSEP CARNER b. 1884 – d. 1970Poet.Translated the best

english authors: Shakespeare, Dickens.

Nickname: ”The prince of catalan poets”.

He died in exile.

Joc del tennis / Juego del tennisAnaves damunt l'herba de la

pradai volava el teu braç adolescent,i pel filat de la raqueta alçadatravessava la llum del sol ponent.La pau dominical tan desesmadai ta faç d'angeleta i el rabent joc seriós m'encisen la diada.D'un rector reformat, pàl·lidament,et veia filla; entorn del presbiteri collies roses; contes de misteriamaves i blancatge i els infants. Jo, oficial, de Singapur venia.Alt vermellenc, et feia cortesia ...Carros de fenc passaven odorants.

Por la hierba del prado caminabas, y volaba tu brazo adolescentei y por la red de la raqueta alzada se filtraba la luz del sol poniente.

La paz dominical, desanimada, tu rostro angelical y aquel veloz y serio juego todo lo embrujaban.

Te veía, borrosa, hija de un párroco reformado. Cogías rosas cerca del

presbiterio y te gustaban loscuentos de misterio, el blanco de las paredes y los niños.

Yo, oficial, de Singapur volvía. Alto, ruborizado, te saludaba ... Pasaban olorosos carros de heno.

Pau Casalsb. 1876 - d. 1973Musician, composer.The best celloist of XXth

century. He died in exile (Puerto

Rico) he gave money to other spanish and catalans exiled.

ONU gave him the gold medal (1971).

The best popular song was “The song of birds”.

Pau Casals playing tenis

Playing in the White House (1961)

United Nations (1971)

http://youtu.be/CMWZEjERlwQ

Catalonia & sport: evolved from two processes 1. Evolution from:

a)Traditional military disciplines : fencing, equestrianism, shooting. From the military quarters

to clubs or gyms.

b)Popular sports: racket ball, boxing (entertainment, betting).

2. Influence from english sports (thanks to relationship with foreigners).

Territorial expansionSport came by way of industrial, comercial and coastal areas :• Girona:

• Figueres & cycling• Very close to French border.• 1891 Sport Figuerense.

• Palamós & soccer• 1898 the first club with only native people was founded.

• South Area • Tarragona: harbor.• Reus: very comercial city.

• Central Area• Barcelona: harbor, arrival point for foreigners.• Industrial cities (textile sector): Sabadell, Terrassa, Mataró.• (Professional industrial workers from other countries worked

and enjoyed free time there).

The first years of sport in Barcelona

Reasons:There was a demand for

urban entertainment.1860 gymnastics and

acrobatics were trendy.1870s was trendy to go

swimming in the sea.1883 Racetrack in Can

Tunis (it was a place for the bourgeoisie = Liceu (opera house).

Pool tables in popular cafes.

Universal Exhibit 1888

From 1920s…Popularity of sports

grew.Professionalism

(soccer).Sport started to

provide economic benefits.

The sport press appeared.