339- Identity: the
building blocks of
2. Literature
and philosophy
3. Art and
architecture
4. Performing
arts
5. Cinema
and fashion
6. Media and
communications
7. Food and drink 8. Living culture:
the details of
No Spain, no gain: joining in
Spain is an immensely sporty nation, with the population
participating in great numbers, both actively and passively,
in a wide range of activities.The combination of an
agreeable climate, diverse geography and international
success in the sporting arena mean that good, wholesome
physical exercise is becoming an increasingly intrinsic
part of Spanish life.The Barcelona Olympics of 1992 are
credited with causing a surge in the provision of gyms and
sports centres, while cycling, golf, skiing and hiking are all
undertaken in large numbers. Every town has its five-a-side
football court (they call itfútbol salahere) and a space
where the distinctly Spanish – or more specifically Basque
–vigourofpelotaunfurls.Football
Spain is mad for football, its prime spectator sport by
some margin. Over a quarter of a million fans attend top-
flight football matches each week, while millions more
are glued to the set for the weekly SundayLa Ligaritual.
The national league features three main divisions, the
lowest of which is subdivided into four regional sections.
The top tier, thePrimera Liga,kickedoffforthefirst
time in 1928.Today, the top teams are studded with
global superstars and the games are exported to a vast
international audience. Real Madrid are the most
successful club in European history and Barcelona, who
boast the biggest football stadium in Europe at the Nou
Camp, are not far behind. Between them Real and Barca
have won nearly 50 of the annual premier division
competitions since 1930.The also-rans are having more
of an impact than they used to, with Valencia in particular
enjoying recent success. Other historic clubs include
Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Real Sociedad.
Deportivo La Coruña have broken into the big boys’ league
more recently.8.8 Bulls, balls and baskets: Spanish sport
The first football club
actually formed in Spain
was Gimnastic de
Tarragona in 1886.
However, they did not
form a team until 1914.Real Madrid, Barcelona
and Athletic Bilbao are
all founding members of
La Ligaand have never
been relegated from
the top division. (Bilbao
came close in 2007,
finishing one place above
the dropzone.)The third division of
Spanish football,
Segunda División B,
contains a number of
Primera Ligareserve
teams.Another reason
to hate Real
Franco unofficially
adopted Real Madrid
as ‘his’ team, and thus
they’re often still
associated with the right
wing. It also gives the
legions of Spanish
football supporters who
despise Real Madrid for
their success (notably
Barcelona fans) another
excuse to hurl abuse in
their general direction.Footie trivia