Sports in Puerto Rico from pre-Columbian time to present
Part of a series on the
Culture of Puerto Rico
Society
Puerto Ricans
Jíbaro
History
Immigration
Languages
Holidays
Religion
Topics
Art
Architecture
Cinema
Cuisine
Dance
Festivals
Handicrafts
Literature
Media
Cinema
News media
Newspapers
Radio
Television
Miss Puerto Rico
Monuments
Music
Painting
Sports
Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña
Symbols
Flag
Coat of arms
Anthem
World Heritage Sites
Puerto Rico portal
v
t
e
Iván Rodríguez
Juan Evangelista Venegas
Gigi Fernández
Lisa Fernandez
Carlos Arroyo
Victor Cruz
Sports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak (Taíno) tribes who inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose for competition. One of the sports which the Taíno's played was a ball game called "Batey". The "Batey" was played in U-shaped fields two teams; however, unlike the ball games of the modern era, the winners were treated like heroes and the losers were sacrificed.
The Spanish Conquistadores who conquered the island introduced various sports such as horse racing, cockfighting, dominoes and a game similar to "Bowling" called "Boliche". The Spaniards however did not participate in team sports.
Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States as a result of their defeat in the 1898 Spanish–American War. American soldiers who organized games as part of their training introduced the sport of boxing and basketball to the people of Puerto Rico. The sport of baseball, which was invented in the United States, was introduced to the island by a group of Puerto Ricans and Cubans who learned the sport in the United States.
Puerto Rico participates in the Olympics as an independent nation even though it is a territory of the United States. Puerto Rico has participated as such since the 1948 Summer Olympics celebrated in London. On March 2, 1917, Puerto Ricans became citizens of the United States as a result of the enactment of the Jones–Shafroth Act (Pub.L. 64–368, 39 Stat. 951) and as such Puerto Ricans who resided in the United States mainland were and still are permitted to participate and represent that country in international sports events. However, their achievements representing the United States are part of the intertwined history of sports in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The following is the list and history of the most common sports practiced in Puerto Rico and other countries and of the Puerto Ricans or people of Puerto Rican descent who have excelled in those sports locally and/or in international events as representatives of Puerto Rico or any other country.
and 20 Related for: Sports in Puerto Rico information
SportsinPuertoRico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak (Taíno) tribes who inhabited...
The history of the sport of boxing inPuertoRico is a varied and extensive one. Boxing is a major sport in the Caribbean country, and the sport has produced...
The flag of PuertoRico (Spanish: Bandera de PuertoRico) represents PuertoRico and its people. It consists of five equal horizontal stripes, alternating...
municipalities of PuertoRico (Spanish: municipios de PuertoRico) are the second-level administrative divisions in the Commonwealth of PuertoRico. There are...
guide to PuertoRico: The Commonwealth of PuertoRico is a self-governing unincorporated territory of the United States of America located in the northeastern...
what became the culture and customs of PuertoRico. In the early part of the 19th century the women inPuertoRico were Spanish subjects and had few individual...
PuertoRico (Spanish for 'rich port'; abbreviated PR; Taino: Borikén or Borinquen), officially the Commonwealth of PuertoRico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado...
PuertoRico (Spanish: gobernador de PuertoRico) is the head of government of the Commonwealth of PuertoRico, and commander-in-chief of the Puerto Rico...
The culture of PuertoRico is the result of a number of internal and indigenous influences, both past and present. Modern cultural manifestations showcase...
The population of PuertoRico has been shaped by native American settlement, European colonization especially under the Spanish Empire, slavery and economic...
are the people of PuertoRico, the inhabitants and citizens of the Commonwealth of PuertoRico and their descendants, including those in mainland United...
The economy of PuertoRico is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and as the most competitive economy in Latin America by the World...
arms of PuertoRico was first granted by the Spanish Crown on November 8, 1511, making it the oldest heraldic achievement still currently in use in the Americas...
of PuertoRico began with the settlement of the Ortoiroid people before 430 BC. At the time of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1493...
The PuertoRico Islanders were a professional association football team based in Bayamón, PuertoRico. They played in several different leagues from 2004...
National Olympic Committee for Puerto Rico. It oversees Olympic-sportsinPuertoRico, and selects the Olympic team which represents the island. It was...
of PuertoRico (Spanish: Senado de PuertoRico) is the upper house of the Legislative Assembly of PuertoRico, the territorial legislature of Puerto Rico...
Global Information
