Pato: Argentina’s National Sport ‹ The Argentina Independent Pato: Argentina’s National Sport 24th February 2010 Daniel Edwards 302 What do you think is Argentina’s national sport? It has to be football surely, hundreds of thousands of people streaming through turnstiles every week to fill the stadiums? Wrong. Ok maybe tennis at a push, very popular again, Argentine players litter the top 100 rankings. No, try again. The more cynical amongst us might say protesting, eating beef or hoarding monedas, but again you would be well off the mark. The actual sport of the nation plays like a cross between polo and basketball, frequently ends in broken bones and used to be played with a live duck. I am, of course, talking about Pato. Scoring a goal (Photo: Beatrice Murch) A Potted History of Pato: Just as football was popularised in England through mass games between villagers taking a rest from working the fields, the sport was established by gauchos breaking up the tedium of watching their herds in the Argentine pampa.

There are written records of pato being played as early as 1610, and complaints of its violence and risk of injury and death dating from 1796. The name comes from the role played by the aforementioned unfortunate duck (pato in Spanish); instead of a ball, the duck was placed in a basket with handles around it and tossed between mounted players, with the object of scoring in a net at the end of the field. Back in the game’s formative years the definition of field was rather loose; games often were played between neighbouring ranches over miles and miles of empty countryside. And just as football in the middle ages was subject to church and state repression for its perceived immorality, so did pato face the iron fist of the authorities – numerous decrees in the 19th century sought to outlaw the sport, and by the turn of the 20th the sport had largely diminished. The sport however resurfaced in the 1930s, more regulated and standardised than before.

Ducks everywhere breathed a sigh of relief as their role was eliminated from the game, instead modern pato is played with a leather ball resembling a volleyball, surrounded by six wooden handles for easier grip- important when trying to scoop the ball up on a horse at full gallop. The game slowly gained respect as an organised, proper sport, and was even declared Argentina’s “national sport” in 1953 by President Juan Perón, in an acknowledgement of pato’s role as a symbol of Argentine nationalism and the gaucho spirit which endows its citizens. It was never able however to match either the popular appeal of football or the upper-class allure of polo, and today it remains a sport primarily for aficionados and agricultural workers in the sprawling countryside that surrounds Buenos Aires. Photo by Jorgelina Tuñon These Men Can Ride! After a season ravaged by an unusually wet Buenos Aires spring and many frustrating weekends of cancelled matches, I was able to witness pato first hand on a beautiful December afternoon. Taking place in the “home of pato”, a sports ground located near the Campo de Mayo military complex, two games were played that were to decide who played in the grand finale the following week.

The most striking aspect of the sport is the incredible skill shown by the riders. The players often find themselves hanging off their steeds at high speed to pluck the ball off the ground, and the nerve and steady hand to throw the ball into the basket while galloping and being harassed by opponents is very impressive. Even more so when you consider none of the players are professional; the majority are farm workers who play the sport in their spare time, directly mirroring the gauchos of old. Sebastian Tuñon, one of three brothers who play the sport professionally, explained that “we don’t have the money in pato that polo has, for instance. None of us can give up work and play professionally; indeed it probably costs us because none of the equipment comes cheap. We do it however because we love the sport and we love playing it.” The Perils of Pato Injuries happen to rider and horse alike. (Photos by Beatrice Murch) A pato team is made up of four players on each side, and eight horses – the horses are rotated constantly to avoid fatigue, an indication of the high intensity the game is played at. The action is fast and furious, with few breaks for the players or audience to catch their breath.

An element of danger is implicit in how pato is played as well, as players are permitted to steal the ball from others, and scenes of two riders each with a handle pulling furiously are commonplace. Injuries are also common, with broken bones a frequent result of falling off a horse awkwardly. The risks however seem part of the attraction for many of the competitors, and certainly add an edge to proceedings. At least however injured players can return; unfortunately on occasion horses will fall and break legs, and in this case they must be destroyed – often on site. My companion informed me that this had occurred at least twice at meetings she had witnessed, and sadly when I was there a horse appeared to be facing the same fate, forlornly limping around the field after a nasty fall. Again though this appears to be part of the game; when I asked some audience members about this aspect a shrug of sad acceptance seemed the most common reaction. Game’s Over? Let’s Eat! The games are hard-fought and competitive, with much banter and insults flying between opposing sides. Eventually however at the end of the day the teams that were to compete in the final were revealed.

El Siasgo defeated El Relincho Pueblo Chico in the first game of the day 21-13 to book their place, El Relincho being punished despite some skilled horsemanship for poor accuracy in front of the net, while El Siasgo appeared to have a laser guide attached as almost every shot found its target. In the other semi-final El Relincho Mangrullo comfortably saw off the challenge of El Relincho de la Criolla, and indeed went on to lift the championship weeks later beating El Siasgo by the slimmest of margins, in a thrilling 14-13 victory. Photo by Beatrice Murch Despite the competitiveness and intensity of the game, however, this doesn’t preclude close friendship and camaraderie between opposing players. As someone more accustomed to the pettiness and spats that are constantly a part of professional football, it was refreshing to see players embrace each other at the final whistle, congratulating or commiserating each other before retiring to the sidelines for a well-earned rest. As Sebastian explained, “yes there is a lot of rivalry between teams, everyone obviously wants to win.

But all finishes when the game ends, off the field we chat to each other and help each other out, and at the end of the day we share a massive asado and some beers together, and any bad will disappears.” Horses, broken bones, hulking great slabs of meat cooking on a barbecue and above quiet respect and camaraderie between men taking a break from life in Argentine agriculture. Much has changed since the days of the gaucho in Argentine society, but through Argentina’s national sport at least the reckless spirit and ignorance of danger so reminiscent of the gaucho spirit continues to survive and thrive. The pato season returns from its summer break at the end of February. To find out when and where the matches take place visit , the official website of the Federation. It is in Spanish, but click calendario 2010 for an easy to read guide to the pato schedule. Fun Argentina Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about Argentina The official name of Argentina is the Argentine Republic. The name Argentina comes from the Latin word for sliver 'argentum'. By land area Argentina is the 2nd largest country in South America and the 8th largest country in the world.

Spanish is the official language of Argentina but there are many other languages spoken throughout the country. Argentina shares a land border with 5 countries including Chile , Brazil , Uruguay, Bolivia and Paraguay. The capital city of Argentina is Buenos Aires. Argentina has a population of over 42 million people (42,610,981) as of July 2013. Argentina borders the Andes mountain range to the west, the highest point is Mount Aconcagua 6,962 m (22,841 ft) located in the Mendoza province. The Argentine city of Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. The Latin dance and music called the Tango began in Buenos Aires. Argentina has three Nobel Prize recipients in the Sciences, Bernardo Houssay, César Milstein and Luis Leloir. The currency of Argentina is called the Peso. Argentine beef is famous around the world and Asado (an Argentine barbecue) is very popular in the country which has the highest consumption of red meat in the world. Argentine cartoonist Quirino Cristiani made and released the world's first two animated feature films in 1917 and 1918.

The most popular sport in Argentina is football (soccer), the Argentine national team has won the football World Cup twice in 1978 and 1986. The national sport of Argentina is Pato a game played on horseback. It takes aspects from polo and basketball. The word Pato is Spanish for 'duck' as early games used a live duck inside a basket instead of a ball. Basketball, Polo, rugby, golf and women's field hockey are also popular sports in the country. There are over 30 national parks in Argentina. For more information, check out maps of Argentina or take a closer look at the Argentinian flag . More Country Facts! Enjoying a Soccer game in Argentina - YouTube Enjoying a Soccer game in Argentina Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Oct 2, 2010 Visit us at Sports in Argentina has a strong European influence.

A long history of colonization accounts for majority of the country's population of European descent, explaining why Argentinians love European sports. And because Argentina has a mild climate most of the time, these outdoor sports are played throughout the country. The sports in Argentina is enjoyed by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Argentina sports is extremely varied despite their European ties. Auto racing, boxing, cricket, field hockey, tennis, polo, rugby, sailing, swimming, rowing, and golf are just some examples of the sports played in Argentina. By far, association football is the most popular sport in Argentina even though pato is considered as the national sport of Argentina. It may come as a surprise to you that pato in Argentina is rarely played by the locals. What makes association football different from the other played sports in Argentina is that it has become part of the country's subculture. At schools, you will see children play football during breaks. At homes and in the outdoors, you can see adults and teens playing football as well. Argentina is the only South American country that could rival Brazil. When both countries play football against each other, it is often referred to as the "Battle of the South Americans". Argentina has defeated Brazil's national team several times in association football.

And yet Brazil should not be underestimated in this sport. Argentina holds an important position in other sports besides football on a global scale as well. Sports like basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, tennis, and volleyball have helped Argentina earn recognition across the world. Basketball, like association football, is another popularly played sport in Argentina, particularly in its provinces. The national basketball team has won Argentina a gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a standing at two World Championships. Rugby union can be just as popular as the national favorite, association football in Argentina, but it is often played by amateurs rather than professionals. Still, this did not stop the country's national rugby union team from gaining recognition globally. Tennis in Argentina flourished in the 1970s. While the sport isn't very popular compared to football, professional tennis players and the national team did bring honor to their country in several occasions. The most recent of which was when Argentina bagged the World Team Cup in 2010. Field hockey is perhaps the only Argentina sport where the women's national team excelled.

They took home the World Cup in 2010, a silver medal at the Olympics in 2012, and the championship during the Hockey Champions Trophy in 2012. And these are but a few of the wins they garnered. The men's national team also won in separate games in 2005 and 2007, earning them a spot as one of the top 10 rugby union teams in the world. Let's not forget boxing, what is one of today's most popularly played sports in Argentina. Argentina is home to some notable boxers including Sergio Martinez who stole the Middleweight championship from Kelly Pavli in 2010; Marcela Acuna, a world champion female boxer; and Victor Galindez, the third Hispanic to hold the Light-Heavyweight title. It is quite evident that Europe has left quite an impression on Argentine sports, and that sports in Argentina is a major component of the local culture and national pride. When traveling to Argentina, you should find the time to enjoy watching the many sports of Argentina. You can also visit my website to learn how to day trade and travel around the world.

This video is also presented by the following websites: Argentina Facts - FactsKing.com Argentina Facts. FactsKing.com / Facts About Countries & Territories / Argentina Facts Argentina remains one of the favorite destinations of tourists from all over the world. From the Andes mountain ranges to football, the country is definitely a tempting recipe for adventure, arts, culture and charming architecture. Its natural resources are teeming with brilliance, which helped fauna to thrive and become part of the sights in this South American country. The Argentine culture offers a plethora of cuisines, sports, literature, arts, music and cinema to the New World. The city life also complements its rich history well, so you can see 20th century metallic facades in line with age- old cemeteries and churches. Important and Interesting Facts about Argentina Argentine beef is famous around the world and Asado (an Argentine barbecue) is very popular in the country which has the highest consumption of red meat in the world. Home to 57,000 residents, Ushuaia, Argentina is the southernmost city in the world. Despite its unique geographical positioning, Ushuaia is not subjected to extreme weather conditions.

Falls are comprised of over 275 cascades in the north of the country, on the border between Brazil and Argentina. Moving south to Patagonia brings us up against another extreme in landscape, the glaciers of Patagonia. One such glacier is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which is the third-largest reserve of fresh water in the world and one of only three glaciers in Patagonia that are growing and not shrinking. Located in the Mendoza province, the Aconcagua is the tallest mountain in both North and South America, measuring upwards of 6,962 meters (22,841.2 ft). It is considered a non-technical climb, and because of its height, many mountaineers consider it the highest non-technical climb on Earth . Penguins in Patagonia are the largest of the warm-weather penguins. These penguins were named after Ferdinand Magellan who first saw them in 1519 on his first voyage around the tip of South America. They live on the coast of Argentina, Chile and the Falkland Islands. Malbec is a purple grape variety used in making red wine . It is increasingly celebrated as an Argentine varietal wine and is being grown around the world.

Argentina is the second largest country of South America after Brazil, and the 8th largest country in the world . Its total area is approximately 2.7 million km². There are over 30 national parks in Argentina. Cool, Funny, and Fun Facts about Argentina The national sport of Argentina is Pato a game played on horseback. It takes aspects from polo and basketball. The word Pato is Spanish for ‘duck’ as early games used a live duck inside a basket instead of a ball. Argentina boasts the highest number of psychiatrists per capita of anywhere on earth. Buenos Aires even has its own psychoanalytic district – the appropriately named “Ville Freud”. It was determined that Argentina had 145 psychologists per 100,000 residents, far ahead of second place Denmark, Which boasts 85. Since Argentina is located in the Southern Hemisphere its climates are completely opposite than the climates in the Northern Hemisphere. When it is summer time in the United States, it is winter in Argentina. Do not give knives or scissors as they indicate a desire to sever the relationship. Gifts are opened immediately. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes later than invited for a dinner party.

Arriving on time is not the norm. Telephone your hosts the following day to thank them. Always keep your hands visible when eating, but do not rest your elbows on the table. It is considered polite to leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished eating. Streets are Named After Dates. This can be very confusing when following a map and conversing about it to your travel partner. “Where do we turn?” “9th of October.” “I asked where do we turn at?” The dates are usually significant to the region, such as independence day and other holidays. Security Guards stand outside banks, museums, clothing stores, gas stations and sometimes even restaurants and they carry big menacing shotguns. This can be a bit intimidating at first, but it’s a safety precaution and quite normal. The rather scary sounding Argentine Vampire Duck has the tendency of taking off lice from other ducks and Christian missionaries thought that it was an act of vampirism! Argentina doesn’t have a tooth fairy; instead during the night a mouse called ‘El Raton Perez’ comes and takes the tooth in exchange for coins. The nation’s president automatically becomes the godparent of the seventh born son to any family in the country.

In 1907 a Russian immigrant believed that this would reverse the curse of the werewolf in his family. Historical and Cultural Facts about Argentina The latin dance and music known as tango originated in the slaughterhouse district of Buenos Aires at the end of the nineteenth century. Combining African rhythms with Argentine Milonga music (a fast-paced version of the polka), the sensual dance was initially looked upon with disdain by Argentina’s high society. Argentina is the Latin American country that has the most Nobel Prize winners. Five people from Argentina have won Nobel Prizes in the categories of science and peace. Argentine cartoonist Quirino Cristiani made and released the world’s first two animated feature films in 1917 and 1918. The most popular sport in Argentina is football (soccer), the Argentine national team has won the football World Cup twice in 1978 and 1986. Friend’s Day is an official holiday in Buenos Aires, although it is not a national public holiday. In the early 1970s, an Argentinian scholar founded Dia del Amigo after he felt connected to everyone on Earth when Apollo 11 landed on the moon.

Paleontologists flock to Argentina each year to participate in archeological digs. The oldest dinosaur species ever to be identified was traced back to both Argentina and Brazil. For this reason, many paleontologists travel to Argentina to search for more clues about this rare dinosaur and others. Argentina was the first country to utilize fingerprinting in order to determine if a person was guilty of a crime. The first instance of fingerprinting occurred after a particularly gruesome murder occurred in a small Argentinean town. The murder was not witnessed by anyone; however the murderer left a bloody fingerprint at the crime scene. The police used the bloody fingerprint to correctly identify the murderer. In 1931, Quirino Cristiani created the very first animated film with sound . Peludópoliswas another political satire made with Cristiani’s trademark cardboard cutout technique. Cuban revolutionary and counter-culture idol Che Guevarra is not actually of Cuban descent having been born in Argentina’s third largest City Rosario. Argentina was one of the first countries in the world to have radio broadcasting. The country’s first broadcast was made in August 1920. At that time only 20 people had a receiver!

Adults and children both travel home after lunch each day to take a siesta. Siestas are short naps that people all around the country partake in. During siestas many businesses and schools close down, and everyone in the country relaxes. There are even a few hotels in the capital city that rent rooms specifically for siestas. NEWSLETTER March 2012 WELCOME Argentina and the sun of May It's May and soon the snow will arrive and with it the best months for skiing. No, we have not gone crazy. This month's newsletter has moved to Argentina in the Southern Hemisphere where the seasons are opposite the Northern Hemisphere. However, we prefer to concentrate on just one South American country, as our monthly proverb advises. In What's Happening In…? you will discover some of the best Argentine traditions that you can experience during the your stay which we will tell you about in dQ News . Before going to Argentina, get a taste for the country by making this month's typical Argentine recipe . Also, in the survival kit you will find some interesting Argentine expressions that you can learn before your trip.

Oh, and did you know that the national emblem of Argentina, the sun of May, can be seen in the country's flag? PROVERB Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. You shouldn't bite off more than you can chew. When you try to do too many things, you lose focus on getting the important things done. WHAT'S HAPPENING IN ... 10 ARGENTINE TRADITIONS Argentina stands out from other countries in South America for its unique culture. The culture of Argentina exemplifies a mixture of practically all European countries. Additionally, the contrast between the desert landscapes, super-populated cities, tropical jungles and Antarctic icebergs make Argentina a truly unique landscape. This month we present you with ten exciting traditions to help you really get to know the culture of Argentina. 1- Participate in a yerba mate ritual Locals in Argentina often stroll through the streets with a thermos of hot water under their arm while sipping this hot beverage through a straw, sometimes sharing the drink with a whole group. The drink, known as mate or yerba mate, is the national beverage of Argentina and Uruguay where the tea is habitually consumed.

The unique feature of yerba mate is that it is served with a metal straw, called a bombilla, and drank from a hollow calabash gourd. 2- Dance the tango The first word that comes to people's mind when they hear Argentine music is "tango". This dance, elegant and sensual, was born in suburbs of Buenos Aires, becoming popular as the music of the immigrants. Carlos Gardel was a songwriter, singer and actor of some of the most well known tango hits of all time. His legendary figure has made him a prominent name in the history of tango with a loyal following of fans. Tango is not merely music and dance, but also words. The lyrics are considered a literary component of tango, incorporating the Lunfardo dialect from the lower classes of Buenos Aires. 3- Send a postcard from the end of the world Ushuaia, in Tierra de Fuego (Land of Fire), is the southernmost city in the world.

After observing the local penguins or riding the Southern Fuegian Railway (Train of the End of the World) you can send a surprising gift to your family back home: a postcard and stamp certifying that you made it to the end of the world and back! 4- Discover European Ancestors It is no strange coincidence that many famous Argentines have last names like Kirscher, Pellegrini, Messi, Fangio... Similar to the USA, Argentina received huge influxes of European immigrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, forming the multicultural country that it is today. The largest amount of immigrants came from Italy and today 50%-70% of all Argentines have Italian blood. The Spaniards who arrived to Argentina came mainly from northern Spain: Galicia, Asturias and the Basque region. Germans also made up an important population in Argentina and today conserve both their language and important traditions such as Oktoberfest. Another important immigrant population in Argentina was that of the Jews. Buenos Aires, one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the Americas, is often referred to as the "Paris of the south".

5- Travel to fantasy lands with Argentine literature Argentina, thanks to its high cultural status, produces ample amounts of sophisticated literature. Many of the country's principal authors were descendants of European immigrants or lived in Europe themselves. Argentine fantasy novels by Julio Cortázar, Bioy Casares or Jorge Luís Borges are famous, known to be experimental and creative. Other popular Argentine authors include the poets Alejandra Pizarnik and Juan Gelmán, the existentialist writer Ernesto Sábato, or the popular cartoonist Joaquín Salvador Lavado (a.k.a: Quino). In Buenos Aires there is a bookstore called El Ateneo, one of the most original in the world located in an old 1919 theatre. 6- Ride with Argentine gauchos An Argentine "gaucho" is the equivalent of a North American cowboy. Not only for their profession working with livestock in the Pampa grasslands, but also for becoming legendary symbols of Argentina. Martin Fierro, a book about the life of an Argentine gaucho, is considered national literature revered by the Argentine people. 7- Belief in soccer The topic of soccer, or European football, is like a religion in Argentina.

Their passion is so great that Maradona, considered the best soccer player of all time, is regularly referred to as "God" by his fans, who have gone on to (half jokingly) found the Church of Maradoniana. Many believe that Leo Messi, an Argentine soccer star who plays in FC Barcelona, will take over Maradona's title as the best soccer player in history. Two of the most important soccer teams in Argentina are River Plate and Boca Juniors. 8- Sunday morning grills The tradition of getting together with friends on the weekend to barbecue on the grill is an important part of the Argentine culture. High quality Argentine meat is grilled with expertise making it famous around the world. Of course, a good Argentine meal cannot lack the popular chimichurri sauce. 9- Eat Argentina-style Heavily influenced by its Italian heritage, Argentina is perhaps one of the best places on the planet to enjoy a good pizza, pasta and mozzarella cheese. Among the most popular desserts in Argentina are alfajores (traditional pastries) filled with famous Argentine dulce de leche. Argentina, with its favorable wine growing climate, is becoming more and more popular for producing magnificent wines.

10- Play polo and pato Polo is a huge sport in Argentina where more people play than anywhere else in the world. Pato (duck), the national sport of Argentina, combines elements from both polo and basketball. The game was originally played by gauchos on horseback using a real duck, but today a ball with six handles is used. The ball must be picked up by the rider and thrown through a vertically positioned ring into a net to score. Study Spanish in Argentina: dQ NEWS Learn Spanish in Argentina Argentina is a modern country with a long tradition of quality education. don Quijote, in association with local schools, offers four Spanish schools in strategically chosen Argentine cities that will help students discover the vast diversity of the unique country. The Spanish school in Buenos Aires is located in the classic and elegant Belgrano neighborhood of the city. Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is the most cosmopolitan city in South America and is known for having a special charm that visitors can easily fall in love with. The city of Bariloche , surrounded by mountains and lakes, is like an Alpine city in the Andes with numerous ski resorts and Swiss architecture.

Our Spanish school in Bariloche is located in the heart of the city with spectacular views. Depending on the season, students in Bariloche can learn Spanish while practicing winter sports, sailing or windsurf. Cordoba , near the great plains of the Argentine Pampa, is the second largest city after Buenos Aires. This old colonial city is the home of the prestigious National University of Cordoba (UNC). Students who choose to study Spanish with don Quijote in Cordoba will take advantage of the school's central location in a historical area where students dominate the scenery. Mendoza , the gateway to the Andes, is a great starting point for hiking expeditions or kayaking, rafting or hiking adventures. Our Spanish school in Mendoza has great facilities and a perfect location to enjoy this beautiful tree-filled city. In addition to offering four amazing Argentine destinations, don Quijote also offers exclusive courses in Argentina. For example, choose the "Best of Both" course which combines 20 hours a week of group classes with 10 hours a week of individual classes; or sign up for the exciting "Spanish in the Pampas" course which takes place outside of Buenos Aires and immerses students in the authentic gaucho culture.

Interested in dancing or altruistic activities? In Buenos Aires and Cordoba students can sign up for the Spanish and Tango course which combines tango lessons with intensive Spanish classes. The same two cities also offer a Spanish and Volunteer course for students who want to actively practice their Spanish while showing their solidarity. Free Tango Classes with your Spanish Course in Argentina Do you dare to tango? Now for a limited time, sign up for a 2 week intensive Spanish course with accommodation in Cordoba and receive 5 FREE tango lessons! What a great opportunity to try out your tango skills in Argentina! Dulce de leche (store bought or homemade) Directions: Sieve the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Make a hole in the center of the mixture and add the cacao, butter, egg yolks, vanilla and sugar. Mix well to form a not too soft dough. Roll out dough thinly. Cut out circles and place on a buttered and floured baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at a low temperature. Remove pastries from baking sheet and let cool. Spread dulce de leche on top.

The dulce de leche can be store-bought or made at home by cooking a can of condensed milk in water for two hours. Grate chocolate and melt over low heat in saucepan with 3 tablespoons of dulce de leche and 3 tablespoons of cornmeal. Stir until smooth. Cover each alfajor with chocolate on both sides and let dry before wrapping each pastry in aluminum foil. URL Patagonia-Argentina.com Patagonia-Argentina.com is a site specialized in organizing trips through the many natural landscapes of Argentina. Their expertise is in the Patagonia and southern regions of the country. The website offers information about how to find and enjoy the most beautiful landscapes in Argentina: visit the ice blue glacier Perito Moreno, go mountain climbing in the Andes, sightseeing in Bariloche and Calafate, navigate the Strait of Magellan and Cape Horn, discover the end of the world in Tierra de Fuego or even taking a boat to Antarctica! Patagonia-Argentina.com also provides information about other areas of Argentina including Iguazu Falls, the Salta province or the Ibera marshes in the northern part of the country.

Discover all of these spectacular natural sites in Argentina; from the Antarctic glaciers to the green jungles… everything is possible in Argentina! OPINION Show no mercy! Follow our motto "say it all with language". We are happy to receive any criticisms or suggestions about our newsletter. Of course, a bit of praise always goes down well, too! You can write to us at this address: monthly@donquijote-foundation.org Our very best virtual wishes! DATA-SECURITY COMMITMENT We keep your details in the strictest confidence, and undertake not to pass them on to third parties. Unsubscribe You have received this newsletter because someone subscribed to this newsletter on our website using [[Email]] as e-mail address. To stop receiving don Quijote newsletter cancel your subscription or email: monthly@donquijote-foundation.org with unsubscribe in the subject. don Quijote. C/ Placentinos, 2. Salamanca, Spain 37008. Popular Sports in Latin America Popular Sports in Latin America HOME : : What to do : : Latin America Sports Soccer, football or fútbol is the most popular of sports Latin America both plays and watches, reflecting the popularity of the sport throughout the world.

In some of the poorer nations, the game is not played on a grass field with a leather ball, but is a group of children kicking an object around in the dirt instead. In a 1996 survey of Latin American children aged 7 to 11, football was the game that topped the playing list. Some of footballs greatest name players and rags to riches stories come from Latin America, including Pelé, Messi and Maradona who all survived childhood hardships to become world class players. In sports, Latin America excels. Brazil has won the FIFA world cup 5 times and Argentina and Uruguay have both won twice. More Than Just Football In the Caribbean , baseball is one of the most popular sports. Latin America has been seeing a growing popularity of the game which came to the Dominican Republic from Cuba in the. Cuban students, studying in the US were the first to bring the game to Cuba between the 1850's and 1860's. It is estimated that just under a third of current baseball players in the United States come from Latin American or are descendents of Latin Americans. World's First Ball Games Ball games have been popular in Latin America for many hundreds of years.

The Mesoamerican ball game sometimes called Ulama dates back 3500 years and was still a popular game when the European explorers 'discovered' the area 500 years ago. Played with a rubber ball of no set size and sometimes with a human skull inside to make the ball hollow, the object of the game was to get the ball through a high hoop, without using your hands or letting the ball touch the ground. The captain of the losing team would be a human sacrifice, connecting the game to the religious beliefs of the people at the time. The game is believed to have evolved and the rules changed slightly in different versions. In later years points were scored for hitting certain walls, or not letting the ball bounce. In other versions, you could only use your hip to project the ball onwards. A descendant of the game, called Batey, was played in the Caribbean. Nowadays there are a number of sports played in Latin America, both traditional or native games and international games that we all recognize. SITE SEARCH Argentina: Polo Made Easy!

- May 15, 2009 Polo In Argentina Sir Winston Churchill is said to have uttered the immortal words – “A polo Handicap is your passport to the world.” Small wonder then that the game has always been considered elitist! Certainly my first contact with the sport was when a friend of a friend of a friend took some lessons with a guy who once taught Prince Charles to play and I only got to see my first game because I was with a film crew. It is a dazzling sport to watch in the flesh and fun to join the hundreds of other spectators when they invade the pitch between chukkas (periods of play) to stamp down the clods of earth whipped up by the horses’ flying hooves; this is a British eccentricity, not usually found at games outside of the UK – but it is exciting to feel, just for a few minutes, part of the whole polo tradition. Polo is probably the fastest, most exhilarating and certainly the oldest team sport on earth; once the preserve of royalty, today it is played by millionaire playboys, princes and ordinary people – like rock stars, Hollywood actors and top models!

You don’t have to have a double-barrelled surname or the right accent to play anymore; you just need lots of money. Played on horseback, with two teams of four, the aim is to hit a small white ball, between two goalposts; all each player needs is a horse, a stick, a ball and a nice, flat, preferably grassy field about the size of ten football fields. Of course professional players on the world circuit, need a whole lot more than this….lots more horses, swanky riding boots, white jodhpurs, a few ‘stick chicks’, copious amounts of champagne, and someone to pay for it all! Those someones are Patrons – and they ‘employ’ high goal players to be in their teams and earn them kudos. For the privilege, they spend thousands if not millions of dollars flying horses and players around the globe to compete in the top tournaments. The late Kerry Packer was so obsessed with winning the coveted Cartier Gold Cup played at Cowdray Park in the south of England that he ‘bought’ an English village nearby in which to base himself for a month or two in preparation for the prestigious tournament.

The structure of Patron Polo plays an instrumental role in keeping the sport and the environment surrounding the game more exclusive that it needs to be. However, there is no doubt that at a certain level….a very high one, it is a game that requires huge amounts of money. Although each chukka, lasts only 7 minutes, (and there are commonly 6 chukkas in a match) because the ponies are galloping at full pelt for most of that time, they have to be changed every chukka; that means each of the four riders in a team, needs a minimum of four ponies each. A good polo pony can cost in excess of $US50,000…so you don’t need to be a mathematician to work out that money and polo are synonymous. Thought to have originated in China and Persia some 2,000 years ago polo became a national sport played by the nobility and was dubbed ‘The Game of Kings’. It also developed as a training device for horse mounted warriors. The name polo is said to be derived from the Tibetan word ‘pulu’, meaning ‘ball’.

The Moguls spread the game from Persia but it was not until the late 19th century that British tea planters discovered the game in India. The British Army quickly took up the sport which developed as essential training for their cavalry units, and in 1863, the Calcutta Polo Club was founded – it is still the oldest active club in the world today. The British are credited with spreading the game worldwide in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Military officers from the 10th Hussars introduced polo to Britain in 1860, and the first set of formal rules was drawn up in 1874 under the auspices of the Hurlingham Polo Association. Polo arrived in both the USA and Australia in 1876. Today, upwards of 77 countries play the game which was an Olympic sport from 1900 to 1939 and has now been recognised again by the International Olympic Committee. Argentina is considered to be the undisputed centre of great polo today – 85% of the highest goal players in the world hail from here.

English and Irish ranchers introduced the game in the 19th century and the first official match in Argentina took place on 3rd September 1875. A wealthy landowner called John Ravenscroft, started a Hurlingham Polo Club, modelled on the English club of the same name, on the outskirts of the capital Buenos Aires. Hurlingham, as well as being a town in its own right, is one of the most important centres of professional polo in the world. The Argentine Open Championship, also played in Buenos Aires, is considered to be the most exalted tournament on the polo circuit. There is a common misconception that polo is a way of life in Argentina….it’s not – and it remains as much an elitist game here as it does elsewhere in the world. It is true to say though, that the opportunities for playing polo in Argentina are great. With fabulous horses and masses of land, would-be players can practice, practice, practice. But, not all Argentines are estancia owners and as such a polo aristocracy has been born; to assume that every Argentinian has the opportunity to play this game would be quite wrong.

Gaucho Argentina is a massive country…11 times bigger than the British Isles and with a climate that ranges from sub-tropical in the north to arctic in the south. A quarter of its 40 million people live in and around Buenos Aires, the Federal Capital. This is where the money is and where the polo is concentrated. The huge ranches or estancias, with their thousands of acres, are what make polo a natural sport here. With plenty of space and grazing, horses are a relatively cheap commodity. Anglo-Argentine settlers brought with them not just the concept of polo, but also their thoroughbred horses, which they crossed with the Argentine cattle horse..the Criollo, to produce the greatest polo ponies in the world. This is where the Patrons come to buy their ponies; this is where the big ‘polo families’ are…the Castongnolas, Pieres, Heguys, Lalors and others, who nurture polo in their children from a young age. This is what gives Argentina its enviable advantage in the world of professional polo. To say that riding is a way of life in Argentina, would however, be accurate.

The horse was not indigenous to South America, but was introduced by the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. An explorer named Mendoza left a handful of his horses behind when he went home to Spain; by the time he returned two years later his horses had settled in, bred and multiplied. The wide and open grasslands provided perfect breeding conditions for these animals, which became instrumental in Argentina’s economic prosperity at this time. Outside of Buenos Aires, even today, the horse is first and foremost a work tool. In and around San Rafael, way to the west, at the foothills of the monumental Andes mountain range, horses still pull ploughs in the fields, carts through town alongside the Toyota Landcruisers and my next door neighbour rounds up his cattle on horseback. Pretty much everybody rides really, really well; but you will never see a a hard hat, a painful English saddle or a rising trot!. There’s no polo here either; miles and miles of grapevines and fruit trees, but it is not cattle country and the huge estancias typical of the north east do not exist.

The massive cattle estates are hundreds, even thousands of acres in size and the horse is still the best way of getting around, the gaucho the best man for the job. Gauchos are the cowboys of South America, are nomadic and take to the wilderness for weeks at a time, moving from estancia to estancia looking for work herding cattle. A gaucho’s horse is his most important asset; he travels light, he works and plays hard, but gauchos never did and don’t play polo. When your whole life has to fit into a saddlebag, I guess there is no room for sticks and balls and the chances of finding a 300 x 160 yard piece of flat grass in the pampas is probably remote! Even today gauchos will demonstrate their riding skills at their rodeo shows…breaking colts, slalom riding, demonstrating lassoing and playing pato, but you won’t see them playing polo. Pato has been played by the gauchos since the 1600s. A live duck (pato is Spanish for duck) would be placed in a basket, and participating riders would pick this up by hand.

The playing field would often stretch between neighbouring estancias and the first horseman to reach his own casco (ranch house) with the basket would be crowned the winner. During its history pato has been banned several times due to the violence – gauchos were trampled underfoot and knife fights started in the heat of the game led to injury and even death. In modern pato, a ball with six handles is used and a goal is scored when the ball is thrown through a vertical ring. There are two four men teams and they play six periods of 8 minutes. The player that has the pato in his possession must ride with his arm outstretched thus allowing rival players a chance to tackle. Pato is similar to buskashi, which is still played by the Afghan horsemen… they use a headless, hoofless goat, no basket and have two teams of up to 200 men….it is a fight to the death as fallen horsemen have little chance of escaping 800 hooves. Polo has many relatives; Elephant polo, first played in India at the beginning of the 20th century, is still played today, Tiger Tops in Nepal being the headquarters of this gargantuan sport.

The pitch is three quarters the length of a standard polo pitch and the sticks are six to nine feet long! Each elephant has two riders, one to hit the ball, the other to steer the elephant, and in 2008 a team from Britain won the yearly championship. However, you are not likely to get lessons for this sport just down the road! Polo is also played in indoor arenas, though with three riders rather than four to a team, and ice and snow polo are other derivatives of the game. You don’t have to be a good rider to learn to play polo; but if you want to be a good player, you have to be an excellent rider. It is a game of skill and stamina rather than just brute strength, which is why women’s polo is now the fastest growing section of the sport. Even in Argentina, a traditionally male dominated society, women’s polo has become acceptable and they are becoming part of the sport, not just as grooms, but as players, Patronas and even event organisers; polo families encourage their daughters to play, right alongside their brothers. What you do need to play polo, is to be right handed, have good hand eye coordination, a moderate level of fitness, and some grit and determination.

You ride one handed and neck rein the ponies – leaving your right arm free to wield your mallet – which is quite heavy (about the weight of my handbag!) and spend little time in the saddle. The sticks or mallets, are made usually of cane and the mallet head, or cigar, from a hardwood cut from the Tipa tree, an unusually durable, close-grained variety, found only in northern Argentina and parts of Brazil and Paraguay. Fit legs are good, and get used to either standing or galloping full tilt – there’s very little in between. It can be a dangerous game…whilst the ponies may be doing speeds of up to 35mph a well hit ball could be travelling a whole lot faster!! A good hard hat (a face guard is a good idea if you value your teeth) is a must. In the UK certainly, it is an expensive sport both to play and learn. A 40 minute lesson can run at about 110 pounds per person, slightly less if you have several in a class.

If you don’t own your own ponies but want to play one chukka at a club, (and remember, we are talking seven minutes here), you can pay in excess of 250 pounds. Membership of a polo club can run into the thousands of pounds per year and this is in addition to owning your own horses and all accessories. In comparison, in Argentina, learning to play is a fraction of the cost. Polo Tourism is expanding; even in these credit crunch times, Argentina is proactive in glamorizing a polo lifestyle with multi-million pound real estate and polo complexes attracting heavy investment. The average cost for a day at a polo estancia is between 250 and 400 USD- but this is all inclusive: costs of transfer from your hotel or the airport, all meals and drinks (including wine) accommodation. And wall to wall polo…tuition, stick and ball sessions, and chukkas. Most estancias offering polo can teach you in English, Spanish, Italian or French and you will find that your coach is likely to be a professional high goal player. All the equipment including hats and sticks is provided…you just have to turn up with your comfortable trousers, boots and some enthusiasm.

Leave your ego behind! It’s a far cry from the UK…make your own way, with a nonsensical map downloaded from the internet, get stuck in traffic and have your lesson cut short due to rain! Polo cannot be played in the rain or on wet ground, so Argentina’s generally dry climate affords year round polo. There are countless polo estancias in and around Buenos Aires, with beautiful lodge houses, plenty of history, rustic ambiance, all modern conveniences and wide open spaces as far as the eye can see; but beyond the borders of the province, you need to dig a bit to find somewhere to play the game. The sport of polo has a long and illustrious history – though it’s no longer exclusively a pastime for the rich and famous, it is inherently a game that needs money. A polo holiday in Argentina is a good way of getting a taste, but if this is beyond the scope of your bank account, go watch a game. It is a glitteringly gladiatorial spectacle…and a fit guy (or gal) on a galloping horse is always pleasing to the eye!

Some places to play: There are countless fabulous polo estancias within a 200km radius of Buenos Aires city, but below are three that I have personal experience of: El Metejon… 20 mins from Ezeiza, Buenos Aires’ international airport. – with beautiful grounds, stunning lodge house, El Metejon offers high class polo playing and tuition. They also have a resident high goal female player/coach and host a Ladies Tournament every year. Diego and Alicia Richini are consummate hosts. Estancia El Rocio Canada Rica 110 km from Buenos Aires, half an hour from Ezeiza…..beautiful relaxing estancia lodge house with all amenities. Polo clinics for beginners and advanced players. Estancia Los Potreros… in La Cumbre, just outside Cordoba (about 700km from BA) Despite the fact that polo is more accessible these days and you don’t have to be rich or royal to play, there is still an aura of ‘snobbishness’ around the game, which may put some people off having a go.

Things are a whole lot more relaxed in Argentina and the estancias gear themselves to all standards of riding and play….but if you really want to learn in a truly non competitive style there is one estancia that offers ‘country polo’ as an alternative. This is polo without all the trappings that might make you feel outclassed. Los Protreros is a 6000 acre estancia nestled in the Sierra Chicas just north west of Cordoba. ‘Country’ or ‘farm’ polo was popular in the UK until the price of ponies and the cost of keeping them became too high. Keen riders with enough land to keep a few ponies and have a dedicated polo field, would get together and have low key games, taking it in turns to travel to each other’s farms. Los Potreros has been owned by the Begg family (Anglo-Argentines of Scottish descent) for over a century. With their 160 horses bred on the estate, they offer trailriding holidays and, if you are up for it, your first taste of polo. There’s no time to feel nervous.

A quick five minute chat on ‘crossing the line’ and the dos and don’ts to keep you and your horse safe, then you mount up and off you go for a game. It is really a fantastic introduction to polo and if you get hooked, which you will, you can have further lessons during your stay, given by a four goal player from the nearby Ascochinga Polo Club. In response to the great interest from their guests they now have dedicated polo weeks; friends and neighbours make up the numbers for practice chukkas and it is like learning with your family it is so laid back…though never at any time is safety compromised. Sidebars Some polo rules The rules of modern polo are complicated and even top professional players will get it wrong. For the total novice the ‘crossing the line’ rule is of paramount importance. This is an imaginary line that runs from the ball to its destination….once a player is in possession of the ball, the opposition cannot cross the line of the ball in front of him….horses can be travelling at speeds of up to 35mph so this rule is crucial for the safety of the horse and rider. Polo matches are divided into periods which are called chukkas.

Each chukka usually lasts seven minutes. Games can have either four, six or eight although six is the most common number. There are intervals of 3 mins between chukkas, when players will change their horses, and 5 mins at half time. A player can change his horse mid-chukka, but the clock does not stop and his team mates must continue play without him. In big tournaments like the Argentina Open, there can be no draw in the final so the game will continue beyond 8 chukkas until one team is two goals ahead. There are usually four players per team, or three for arena polo, and two teams play against each other. There are two umpires, also on horseback. After each goal scored, the teams change ends…this is considered fairest when there are adverse conditions such as low sun or high wind. The object of the game is simply to score more goals than the opposing team. Each player is handicapped from -2 up to 10 goals. A ten goal player is a top professional!

The ground is 300 yards long x 160 yards wide if boarded….which means the field has a 12 inch high board surrounding the perimeter which prevents the ball going out of play. If the ground is unboarded, it is 200 yards wide and marked with a white line. The goal posts, positioned at each end, are 8 yards apart. Obviously, the players are all mounted on polo horses – they are usually referred to as polo ponies though they are fully grown and a good pony accounts for a huge percentage of the talent and skill in a game. You have to be left-handed to play. The sticks or mallets, weigh approximately 510-530 grams, but the relationship between the weight of the head (cigar) and the stick itself, if of crucial importance to the performance of a top player. The ponies wear bandages or guards on their ankles (fetlocks) to protect them from the players’ sticks. Polo ponies are bred and trained exclusively for the game: and they love it! Polo photos: Matt Green ( Judy Ives

Question: Pato, a game played on horseback, is the national sport of which South American country?
Answer: Argentina