Spain and Olympism. - LA84 Foundation

Spain and Olympism
“I must compliment you on your programme, since one of the principal duties
of an NOC is not only to prepare Olympic teams, but also to educate all
the people in the high ideals of the Olympic movement.”
SPAIN
550,000 square kilometres.
35,285,377 inhabitants (at 31st December
1974).
COMITE OLIMPICO ESPANOL (COE)
Founded on 11th January 1924.
President in office: Benito Castejon*.
Secretary General in office: Anselmo
Lopez *.
Address: Av. de Martin Fierro s/n,
Madrid 3.
Telephone: 449.72.00 - 449.73.00 -
243.50.56.
Telex: 22 661 Sport.
Cable: Olimpico.
* See biographical notes.
Avery Brundage to Juan Antonio Samaranch
7th January 1967
Role of the COE
The statutes of the Spanish Olympic
Committee and the Physical Education
Act (77/1961 of 23rd December 1961)
define clearly and officially the role
of the COE. It seeks to develop and
defend the Olympic movement and
amateur sport. In collaboration with
the national federations affiliated to
the International Federations recognised
by the International Olympic
Committee, as well as with other national
federations or amateur sports organisations,
it acts as a permanent
sovereign body to stimulate and guide
the practice and preparation of sporting
activities represented at the Olympic
Games and in other international
amateur games, such as the Mediterranean
Games.
The Spanish Olympic Committee directs
the Olympic preparation programmes
in close collaboration with
the national federations; it strengthens
the Olympic spirit through an adequate
popularisation of sporting technique;
it supervises the precise application of
the Olympic regulations whilst collaborating
with official and private sports
organisations in order to extend amateur
sport.
The Spanish Olympic Committee owns
the exclusive right (recognised by law)
to the use of the Olympic flag and
emblems, as well as to the terms
“Olympic Games” and “Olympiad”, in
accordance with the International
Olympic Committee’s requirements.
513

The King of Spain in 1972 at the yachting
regattas in Kiel.
Origin
Right from the start, the Spanish were
associated with the renovation of the
Olympic Games. Among those who
contributed to the success of the 1894
Congress, convened by Pierre de Coubertin,
were Professors Adolpho Gonzalez
Posada and Aniceto Sela, both
from Oviedo University, and representatives
of the Spanish Gymnastics Society
in Madrid.
In a letter to Coubertin, sent from
Oviedo on 29th July 1894, Aniceto Sela
wrote in French: “... Would you please
also send me the conclusions adopted
by the Congress so I can write an
article for the Spanish newspapers...”
Unfortunately, his effort did not arouse
any active national participation in the
development of modern Olympism. The
Games in Athens therefore caused
little stir in Spain.
In 1900, thanks to Count de Mejorada
del Campo**, a few Spaniards appeared
in the Olympic events of rowing,
swimming, shooting and archery,
with Santiago Pidal, Marquess de Villa-
514
viciosa even finishing second in the
latter discipline.
Two years later, Count de Mejorada
del Campo* became the first member
of the International Olympic Committee
in Spain. He won the king over to the
IOC cause and the “Olympic Review”
of October 1902 stated: “HM the King
of Spain has condescended several
times since his coronation to show
interest in our work. The King has
spoken to our colleague, Count de
Mejorada, about the progress and
future of the Olympic Games, and
latterly charged him with handing the
insignia of the Order of Charles III to
the Committee’s President. Sport is
slowly but surely gaining ground in
Spain and perhaps before long Madrid
will see an Olympiad celebrated within
its walls. Let us say, in this respect,
that Count de Mejorada has just won
the great Pau steeplechase for the
fourth time.”
** Following enquiries made by our friend Andrés
Mercé Varela, the family of this member have
confirmed that the Count de Mejorada del Campo
became Marquess de Villamejor in 1911. In point
of fact, there is no mention in the IOC archives
of 1911-1912 concerning either the resignation or
death of Count de Mejorada del Campo.
Count de
Mejorada del Campo
Marquess de Villamejor

In 1911, Count de Mejorada* who had
become the Marquess de Villamejor,
was received by Coubertin; he agreed
with the President of the IOC to form
a Spanish Olympic Committee. The
“Olympic Review” of the time stated:
“Spain is coming out of its international
indifference. Increased meetings
and the definite formation of the
Spanish Olympic Committee are positive
indicators. This nation will probably
be able to give much in the
future, but on condition that it shows
will and perseverance.”
The life of this first COE left barely
a trace. It was necessary to await the
arrival at the IOC, in 1922, of Santiago
Güell y Lopez, Baron de Güell*, before
witnessing the real birth of an organised
NOC.
Creation
On 11th January 1924, the Spanish
Olympic Committee was founded in
Barcelona, at the headquarters of the
Real Sociedad de Carreras de Caballos
(Royal Horse Racing Society), Paseo
de Gracia 32, under the presidency of
Santiago Güell y Lopez, Baron de
Güell*, member of the International
Olympic Committee in Spain.
At the first two full sessions at Madrid
on 30th and 31st January 1924, held
respectively in the home of the President
of the Council of Ministers,
Paseo de la Castellana 1, and in the
Palace Hotel, the constitution of the
Spanish Olympic Committee and the
appointments to its first Board were
approved, and the participation in the
1924 Games decided. This first delegation,
formed by the COE, was congratulated
by Baron de Coubertin and
Count Henry de Baillet-Latour for the
conduct of the Spanish athletes and
sportsmen at the celebration of the
Games of the XIIIth Olympiad.
* See biographical notes.
January 1924 - First Board of the COE
PT: Santiago Güell y Lopez, Baron de
Güell*, IOC member in Spain; VPT: Mariano
de Rivera; T: José Vidal Ribas Güell;
SG: José Miralles Estivill; Ms: Javier Pena,
Garcia Cernuda, Juan Devalillo, the
Marquess de Martorell, Count de la Mortera,
Julio Fleischner, Ricardo Cabot, M.
Masriera.
Federations affillated to the COE In 1924
Athletics
Rowing
Boxing
Cycling
Evolution
Football
Gymnastics
Hockey
Swimming
Rugby
Tennis
Yachting
In the initial years, the life of the COE
was marked by the organisation of
the IOC Session, held in 1931 in
Barcelona, and the elections to the
IOC of the Duke d’Alba, the Marquess
de Pons and the Count de Vallellano*.
In 1941, José Moscardo Ituarte, a
notable Spanish figure, became President
of the NOC where he remained
until his death in 1956, leaving the
memory of a dynamic leader.
In 1955, the city of Barcelona successfully
staged the llnd Mediterranean
Games, due to the efforts of the lamented
Baron de Güell*, who died in
1954, very well assisted by his son-inlaw,
Pedro y Ybarra y Mac-Mahon*
who succeeded him at the IOC in
1952, also due to the Spanish Olympic
Committee, the municipality and a
young leader, Juan Antonio Samaranch*
who had already been called
to the highest functions.
The successors of General Moscardo,
whether José Antonio Elola-Olaso*,
Juan Antonio Samaranch*, Juan Gich,
or Tomas Pelayo Ros*, all applied
themselves to the reformation and
better organisation of the COE, increasing
the most varied Olympic activities
in the field of competition sport,
and also in the spheres of education,
art and recreation.
515

From right to Ieft: Baron de Güell and Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lord Killanin,
President of the IOC, and Mr. Juan Gich.
IOC members in Spain Successive Presidents of the COE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Gonzalo de Figueroa y Torres,
Count de Mejorada deI Campo,
Marquess de Villamejor, from 1902
to 1921.
Horacio Echevarrieta y Madaleno,
from 1921 to 1923.
Santiago Güell y Lopez, Baron de
Güell*, from 1922 to 1954.
Jacobo Stuart Fitz-James y Falco,
Duke d’Alba, from 1924 to 1927.
Manuel Falco y Escandon, Marquess
de Pons, from 1927 to 1930.
Fernando Suarez de Tangil y Angulo,
Count de Vallellano*, from
1931 to 1952.
Pedro de Ybarra y Mac-Mahon,
Baron de Güell*, since 1952.
Juan Antonio Samaranch*, since
1966, Chief of Protocol of the IOC
from 1968 to 1975, member of the
Executive Board since 1970, Vice-
President since 1974.
* See biographical notes.
516
1924-1926: Santiago Güell y Lopez,
Baron de Güell*.
1926-1931: Marquess de Lamadrid.
1933-1936: Dr. Augusto Pi Suner.
1941-1956: José Moscardo Ituarte,
Count del Alcazar de Toledo.
Santiago
Güell y Lopez,
Baron de Güell
Benito Castejón
Tomás Pelayo Ros
1956-1967: José Antonio Elola-Olaso*.
1967-1970: Juan Antonio Samaranch*.
1970-1975: Juan Gich.
1975-1976: Tomas Pelayo Ros*.
Since 1976: Benito Castejon*.

SPAIN AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES Date of first participation: 1900.
Representation of Spain
at the Winter Games from 1936 to 1976¹
1936
6
1948
6
1952
1 4
1956
6
1960
5
1964 6
1968 10 4 7
1972 3(1)
1976 6
It was not however until 1920 that Spanish
attendance at Olympiad celebrations
became regular. No Spanish delegation
went to Berlin (1936) for internal
political reasons, nor to Melbourne
(1956).
Spanish cities which have applied
to stage the Olympic Games
Barcelona, candidate city for the organisation
of the 1924, 1936 and 1940
Olympic Games.
Madrid, candidate city for the organisation
of the 1972 Olympic Games.
1 The figures in brackets represent the number
of women included in the first figure.
Not included on the programme. Munich 1972 - The Spanish delegation.
517

Representation of Spain at the Olympic Games
from 1896 to 1976¹
1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1920 15
1924 15
1928 10
1932
1936
1948 8
1952
1956
1960 13
1964 6
1968 9
1972 13
1976 18
x
5
10
1
6
0²
18 12
3 12
12
7
7
8
8
4
6
5
5
2
5
7
6
x
4 13
1 8 7
7
6
6
8 8
6 3
7
10 5
4 4
¹ The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure.
x Sport included in the programme but in which no event was contested.
² Demonstration Sport.
Not included on the programme.
518
0²
18
11
17
1
12(3) 12(6) 2
18
4(1) 1
17 6 1

1896
1900
1904
1908
1912
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936 0²
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972 16
1976
15
14
14
14
17
18
16
1
2
12
4 14
12
9
1
5
15 3 6
9
4
4 1O(2) 3 8
1 11(3) 5
24(2)
22(3)
17
a ) At Antwerp in 1920, Spaniards took part in tennis and polo.
b ) At Paris in 1924, a polo team came 4th.
c ) Stockholm.
12
9
9
2(1)
x
4
6
1
3
1
11
1
8
11
0
5
0
0
0
54(a)
83(b)
83
6
0
65
27
6(c)
145(11)
51(3)
121(2)
136(5)
14 121
519

1928 - from left to right: “Revistada”, Capt.
D. Julio Garcia Fernandez: “Zapatazo”,
Capt. D. José Navarro Morenes; “Zalamero”,
Capt. D. José Alvarez de Bohorques
de los Trujillos.
1972 - Francisco Fernandez Ochoa.
The Spanish Olympic Champions
Spanish Olympic medallists
In 1900 in Paris, Santiago Pidal, Marquess
de Villaviciosa, became the first
Spanish Olympic medallist by coming
second in archery.
Twenty years later in Antwerp, the
Spanish football and polo players also
finished second in their respective tournaments.
Finally, in 1928, three riders, José Navarro
Morenes, José Alvarez de los
Trujillos and Julio Garcia Fernandez,
combined their efforts perfectly to win
the Grand Prix des Nations (team show
jumping) and thus gained the first
Spanish Olympic champion title. A
second Olympic title was awarded to
a Spanish sportsman in 1972, at Sapporo,
when the young skier Francisco
Fernandez Ochoa came first in the
special slalom.
Other Spanish Olympic winners: the
yachtsman Santiago Amat Cansino
(3rd, 1932), the riders in the Grand
Prix des Nations (team show jumping -
2nd, 1948), the pistol shooter Angel
Leon de Gonzalez (2nd, 1952), the
hockey players (3rd, 1960), the boxer
Enrique Rodriguez Cal (3rd, 1972), the
K4 1000 m. canoeists José Celorrio,
José Diaz-Flor, Herminio Memendez
and Luis Misione (2nd, 1976), and the
470 class sailors Antonio Gorostegui
and Pedro Millet (2nd, 1976).
Let us also mention the victories in
1968, at Mexico, in the demonstration
events, of the tennis players Manuel
Santana, Manuel Orantes and Juan Gisbert,
and of the Spanish pelota
players...
I. Titles obtained at the Olympic Games
Name
Christian
Name Sport Event Year Birth Death Notes
Alvarez de Bohorques
de los Trujillos
Navarro Morenes
Garcia Fernandez
José
José
Julio
Equestrian
Equestrian
Equestrian
Team show jumping
Team show jumping
Team show jumping
1928
1928
1928
1895
1897
1894
—
1974
—
2nd again
in 1948
II. Title obtained at the Winter Games
Fernandez Ochoa Francisco Alpine skiing Special slalom 1972 1950
520

PRESENT ORGANISATION
OF THE COE
The present statutes of the COE
were approved by the IOC at its 71st
Session, meeting in 1971 at Luxembourg.
The full assembly constitutes the
deliberative body of the COE, holding
a legislative function. Its powers
consist of:
“a) submitting modifications to the
statutes and regulations of the
Spanish Olympic Committee to the
International Olympic Committee
for approval,
b) approving the composition of the
Spanish team which should participate
in the Olympic Games or
other games authorised by the International
Olympic Committee,
c) approving the budgets,
d) nominating, renewing or re-electing
the members forming the full assembly
and Executive Board,
e) delegating to the Executive Board
the tasks it considers suitable,
f) all other matters within the Committee’s
powers which are not
passed to one of the other bodies.”
Article 9 of the COE’s statutes
Composition
The full assembly of the COE is made
up principally of the Presidents or representatives
of the national federations
with sports on the Olympic programme,
the Spanish IOC members
(who have the voting majority), the
former Presidents of the COE, a representative
of the Ministries for Foreign
Affairs and for Science and
Education, a delegate of the General
Sports Mutual Insurance Company, the
National Sports Medicine Federation,
and the National Sports Writers Association.
Present members of the Executive
Board
PT: Mr. Benito Castejon*; VPT: Mr.
Antonio Navarro; SG: Mr. Anselmo
Lopez*; T: Mr. Martin Alenar; ex
officio MS: Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch*
and Pedro de Ybarra y Mac-
Mahon, Baron de Güell*, both members
of the IOC in Spain; M S: Victoria
Ybarra, Messrs. Juan Gich, José Maria
Cagigal, Francisco Platon, Pablo
Porta, Miguel Primo de Rivera.
The Executive Board is the executive
authority; it supervises the application
of decisions taken by the full
assembly.
Meetings
The full assembly of the COE meets
at least once per year and on the
written request of a minimum of one
third of its members. The Executive
Board must meet at least four times
yearly.
Financing of the COE
The Spanish Olympic Committee receives
aid directly from the State.
Some ministries, such as that for Education
and Science, set aside sums
from their budgets to assist the Committee’s
work. The National Delegation
for Physical Education and Sports
subsidises the Spanish Olympic Committee,
according to the Physical Education
Act which states in its article
20, paragraph d): “...give the greatest
assistance to the Spanish Olympic
Committee in its task of spreading and
extending the Olympic movement, as
well as in the preparation and national
representation at the Olympic Games.”
521

Federations affiliated to the COE
24 Olympic federations...
Federation Year of creation
Athletics 1918
Basketball 1923
Handball 1941
Bobsleigh 1969
Boxing 1923
Cycling 1895
Fencing 1928
Skiing 1942
Football 1910
Gymnastics 1899
Weightlifting 1966
Equestrian 1940
Hockey 1923
Judo 1965
Wrestling 1932
Swimming 1920
Skating 1955
Pentathlon 1946
Canoeing 1960
Rowing 1918
Archery 1950
Shooting 1900
Yachting 1965¹
Volleyball 1960
THE COE AND OLYMPISM
IOC Sessions held in Spain
1931 Session in Barcelona.
1965 Session in Madrid, preceded by
the meeting of the IOC Executive
Board with the representatives
of the NOCs.
In October 1976 at Barcelona, the IOC
Executive Board will be meeting the
representatives of the International Federations.
1948
889
2 100
505
—
1 663
2 173
180
893
26 939
19
—
—
1 670
—
300
949
1 048
16
—
80
—
1 781
390
—
Members in
1960
1 909
7 715
8 637
—
1 221
5 226
350
1 520
43 436
706
—
264
2 272
—
2 450
3 430
2 065
42
154
255
248
2 345
873
415
1973
166 553
157 847
160 503
33
2 929
7 607
3 821
34 749
163 872
6 103
4 108
2 778
8 915
32 849
6 075
19 729
8 033
153
4 021
2 391
2 686
24 563
10 040
71 438
¹ Formerly, this federation existed under the name of the Spanish Water Sports Federation, created
in 1908.
... and subaquatic sports, aeronautics, chess, automobile, baseball, bowls, water skiing, golf, mountaineering,
motorcycling, speed boating, pelota. fishing, polo, rugby, tennis, table tennis, university
sports, surfing, hunting and physically handicapped.
522

Olympic awards obtained
Olympic Diploma of Merit
— By HM Alphonso XIII, 11th holder
in 1911. Wrote Pierre de Coubertin:
“By displaying his physical
activity, the King of Spain gives a
very valuable and useful lesson to
modern society in which athletics
in all its forms often tends to become
a matter of vanity or selfpromotion.”
— By Jose Antonio Elola-Olaso*, 45th
holder in 1967, for his untiring and
generous activity at the service of
promoting the Olympic movement
and amateur sport in Spain.
— By Andrés Mercé Varela, 52nd
holder in 1971, for his capabilities
as a journalist and sports leader,
defender of Olympism.
1956 - Barcelona: Messrs. Juan Antonio
Samaranch and Andrés Mercé Varela raise
the Olympic flag.
Olympic Cup
— 1923, by the Catalonia Sports. Association;
founded in 1921 by Baron
de Güell* and Juan Ventosa Calvell,
this organisation was the forerunner
of the COE.
Mohammed Taher Trophy
— 1960, by Joaquim Blume, gymnast,
for the sporting and humane qualities
he displayed up until his accidental
death. This trophy was
attributed posthumously.
Count Alberto Bonacossa Trophy
— 1965, by the Spanish Olympic Committee,
for its excellent organisation
of the IOC Session and meeting
of the IOC Executive Board
with the representatives of the
NOCs.
International Olympic Academy
Since the first IOA Session, the COE
has regularly sent a delegation of
about five members. Among the Spanish
lecturers at the Academy appear
Dr. Jose Maria Cagigal, Director of
the National Institute of Physical Education
and Sport at Madrid (INEP), Mr.
Conrado Durantez, Director of the
INEP’s Centre of Olympic Studies, and
Mr. Andrés Mercé Varela, a sports
journalist well-known to our readers.
Olympic Day
This is not celebrated regularly in
Spain. However, its celebration is anticipated
in the COE’s activities. Furthermore,
in certain areas, events
comparable to the “Olympic Day”
suggested by the International Olympic
Committee are organised regularly by
the federations and clubs.
Protection of the Olympic emblems
The Olympic emblems are protected in
Spain by Act 77/1961 of 23rd Decem-
523

er 1961 on Physical Education, published
in the State’s Official Bulletin,
No. 309 of 27th December 1961.
Indeed, article 38 of the said act
states: “No public or private organisation,
society or company may use the
emblem of the five interlaced rings
in blue, yellow, black, green and red
on a white background, nor the terms
“Olympic Games” and “Olympiad”,
nor any other signs or titles that could
be mistaken, whether or not the use
be for commercial purposes.”
“The employment of the emblems and
terms protected by the present article
is reserved exclusively for the Spanish
Olympic Committee.”
Of course, this law is consistant with
the principles laid down in chapter
IX, article 29 of the Spanish Olympic
Committee’s statutes.
In keeping with these provisions, the
Spanish Olympic Committee guarantees
a systematic protection of the
Olympic emblems. For this purpose, it
has made an agreement with a legal
firm specialising in the registration of
trademarks, business signs and commercial
names, which carry out close
surveillance with the Committee, legally
exposing any cases contravening
the legal provisions mentioned.
Furthermore, for greater security in
protecting the Olympic emblems and
terms, the words “Olympiad” and
“Olympic Games”, accompanied by
the drawing of the five interlaced rings,
have recently been registered.
Also, to prevent the appearance on the
market of commercial products bearing
the Olympic emblems without the
authorisation of the Spanish Olympic
Committee, an agreement was drawn
up with the Organising Committee for
the Montreal Games and with the
commercial firm Romagosa International
Merchandising, granting the exclu-
524
sive use of certain symbols during the
Olympic period.
This solution, besides a guarantee and
control of the correct and moderate
use—since it is constantly supervised
by the COE—produces economic benefits
which help to assist Spanish
Olympic sportsmen preparing for the
Olympic Games.
Publications of the COE
The Spanish Olympic Committee does
not publish a regular bulletin. However,
in its National Institute of Physical
Education and Sport it has a
large publications department which
regularly assembles and publishes
sports studies, treatises and books it
considers interesting.
The Spanish Olympic Committee also
has another section, similar to the
publications department, which deals
with cinematography and exhibitions.
This department is responsible for
other activities: every other year, it collaborates
with the National Delegation of
Physical Education and Sport in organising
a greatly renowned exhibition
of painting and sculpture on sports
themes—“the exhibition of sport in the
fine arts”.
Among the various publications of the
COE, we would particularly point out
two very praiseworthy books: “Olympic
Stamps” and the luxurious album
presenting Madrid’s candidature in
1966 to stage the Games of the XXth
Olympiad. In addition, let us mention
the excellent monthly magazine “Deporte
2000”, published by the National
Institute of Physical Education in Madrid.
Finally, in the field of sports art,
we would recall that, thanks to the
COE, the master Salvador Dali produced
a major work for the cultural
Olympiad organised in 1968 on the
occasion of the Games in Mexico.

Spanish Olympic bibliography
Below we set out the main original or
translated works on the subject of
Olympism and published in Spanish:
Assa, Janine. — El Olimplsmo Femenino. Madrid,
Comité Olimpico Español, 1960.
Arce, Eduardo. — El Mundo de las Olimpiadas.
Esplugas de Llobregat (Barcelona), Plaza &
Janés, 1972.
Arnaiz. Sabino. — El Deporte en Grecia. Madrid,
Ediciones del Movimiento, 1964.
Cagigal, José Ma. — El Olimpismo Moderno.
Madrid, Comité Olimpico Español, 1961.
Cagigal, Jose Ma. — Padagogische Bewertung
der Olympischen Spiele in der Volksmeinung.
Madrid, lnstituto Nacional de Educación Fisica,
1971.
Casa Olimpica. Comité para el recibimiento de
los concursantes de los paises de habla española
a los Juegos Olimpicos, Madrid, 1928.
Comité Olimpico Internanional. — LXIII Sesión,
1965 en Madrid. Acto de Apertura. Comite Olimpico
Español, 1965.
Comite Olimpico Español. Barcelona. — Estatutos
y Composición del Comité y Reglamento de
su Delegación Oficial en Madrid. Barcelona, 1926.
Coubertin, Pierre de. — Memorias Olimpicas.
Madrid, Comité Olimpico Español, 1965.
Delgado Noguera, Miguel Angel. — Los Juegos
Olimpicos Ayer y Hoy (Trabajo de fin de Carrera).
Madrid, lnstituto Nacional de Educación
Fisica y Deportes, 1972.
Durantez, Conrado. — Los Juegos Olimpicos
Antiguos. Madrid, Comité Olimpico Español,
1965 (2 vol.).
Escamilla, Pedro. — De Atenas a Roma (Historia
breve del atletismo olimpicos). Madrid, Servicio
de Divulgación Técnico-deportiva de la Delegación
Nacional de Educación Fisica y Deportes,
1960. — Los Juegos Olimpicos (Con prólogo de
D. Juan Antonio Samaranch). Barcelona, AFHA
Internacional, 1968.
Fauria, Juan. — Las Olimpiadas. Barcelona, Editorial
Hispano-Europea, 1968. — Heroes Olimpicos.
Madrid, Editorial Doncel, 1973.
Henry, Bill. — Historia de los Juegos Olimpicos.
Barcelona, Editorial Hispano-Europea, 1955.
Los Joegos Olimpicos. Avery Brundage, Pierre
de Coubertin, Ernst Curtius, Carl Diem, Ma-
drid. lnstituto Nacional de Educación Fisica,
1972.
Karag, Acisclo. — Diccionario de los Deportes.
Barcelona, Dalmau y Jover, 1958.
Mayer, Otto. — A Través de los Aros Olimpicos.
Madrid, Comité Olimpico Español, 1962.
Retrospectivas Olimpicas. Madrid, Comité Olimpico
Español, 1964.
Marinel-Lo, José. — Reves del Estadio-Reportaje
Histórico. Barcelona, Ediciones Don Bosco, 1968.
Merce-Varela. Andrés. — De Olympia a Munich.
Barcelona, Editorial Planeta, 1972.
Merce-Varela, Andrés. — De Olympia a Munich.
Barcelona, Editorial Planeta. 1972. — 100 años de
Deporte. Barcelona. 2 volumes. Edit. Difusora
Internacional, 1972. — 60 años gloriosos. Barcelona.
Editorial Plaza & Janés, 1974. — El Mundo
de los Deportes. Editorial Casanovas. Barcelona,
1976. — Olimpiada 1976. Barcelona. Editorial HMB.
S.A., 1976. — Jocs Olimpics 1976. En Catalán.
Barcelona. Editorial HMB. S.A., 1976.
Meyer, Gastón. — El Fenómeno Olimpico. Madrid,
Comité Olimpico Español, 1963.
Nogareda, Manuel. — Juegos Olimpicos (Con
prólogo del Marqués de Villamejor). Barcelona.
Ediciones Ibéricas,
Piernavieja, Miguel. — Avery Brundage. Quljote
del Deporte Aficionado. Madrid, Comité Olimpico
Español. 1958.
Pindaro. — Olimpicas (Traducción del griego.
Prólogo y notas de Francisco de P. Samaranch).
Madrid, Aguilar, 1967.
Olimpicas (Texto, introducción y notas de Manuel
Fernández-Galiano. Madrid, Consejo Superior
de lnvestigaciones Cientificas, 1956.
Ruigomez, Juan A. — Los Fabulosos Juegos
Olimpicos. Bilbao, Editorial Mensajero, 1972.
Samaranch, Juan Antonio. — El Olimpismo en
el Mundo Actual. IX Sesión de la Academia
Olimpica Internacional, 1969.
Santillana. — El Deporte y su Historia. Madrid,
Editorial Santillana (por un grupo de sus redactores),
1971.
Simposio del Comité de Historia del Deporte
del CIEPS (Desarrollo de la idea olimpica desde
el Baron de Coubertin). Madrid, lnstituto Nacional
de Educación Fisica, 1971.
Tharrats, Juan Gabriel — Los Juegos Olimpicos
(Historia completa de las Olimpiadas desde sus
origenes a Munich 72. Obra en fasciculos). Madrid,
Ibérico-Europea de Ediciones, 1973.
Valserra. — Historia del Deporte. Madrid, Editorial
Plus Ultra, 1944.
Programa de los Juegos Olimpicos que se celebrarán
en Amberes en 1920. Madrid, Tip Stampa,
1920.
Comité Olimpico Español, Barcelona. Memoria.
Liquidacion y Balance de la participatión de
España en Ics Juegos de la VIII Olimpiada.
Cuadro General de clasificación y resultados.
Villalba, Ricardo. — lnforme que eleva al Delegado
Nacional de Deportes sobre los Juegos
Olimpicos de Helsinki de 1952, Cáceres, 1952.
525

SPORT IN SPAIN
Other sports governing bodies
The National Delegation of Physical
Education and Sport represents
Spain’s most important sports authority.
This organisation is responsible
for all sports activity.
The National Sports Council was
created in August 1938. Two and a
half years later, on 5th March 1941,
the National Delegation of Physical
Education and Sport was constituted
with the aim of directing and developing
sport and physical culture.
The Physical Education Act 77/1961,
of 23rd December 1961, lists the
powers of this Delegation. This fundamental
law regulates the construction,
maintenance and development of
sports installations. It decided on the
creation of a National Institute of
Physical Education for the formation
of the teaching profession and sports
coaches. It recognised the existence
of sports medicine.
State aid for the sports movement
The State subsidises the Spanish
Olympic Committee through the National
Delegation of Physical Education
and Sport.
The Spanish Olympic Committee also
receives a subsidy from the Ministry
for Education and Science.
The federations are granted funds by
the National Delegation of Physical
Education and Sport.
This Delegation, in accordance with
the above-mentioned Physical Education
Act, collects assistance from the
State on several counts; the funds of
the Delegation are mainly composed
of:
— the amounts which, in a general
manner or for a precise reason, are
allocated each year by the general
budget of the State;
— the subsidies granted by public authorities;
526
— twenty-two percent of the receipts
from the sports totalisator system;
— donations.
Spanish amateur sport also benefits
from a series of various exemptions
from the Ministry for Finance, Industry,
etc.
Formation of sports leaders
This formation is entrusted to the National
Institute of Physical Education
and Sport, the purpose of which is to
train masters, master instructors, teachers
and monitors of physical education.
The national federations, in collaboration
with the National Institute of Physical
Education and Sport, also have
special schools for training coaches
specialised in their respective sports.
Sport at school
Gradually, greater importance is being
given to physical education and sport
at school. Thus, physical education
has become today a standard subject
in each class, from primary school to
university.
For the last few years, two sports
centres belonging to the Spanish Olympic
Committee have been in operation,
one in Madrid and the other in Barcelona,
enabling each year between
80 and 134 pupils to devote themselves
to competition sport and studies at
the same time.
Sports installations
According to the 1973 statistics published
in 1975, there are:
357 athletics tracks,
3,230 football grounds,
1,380 gymnasia,
236 skating rinks,
1,714 swimming pools,
36 archery fields,
168 shooting ranges,
14 velodromes,
3,245 basketball pitches,
1,356 handball pitches.

A new President of the Spanish Olympic Committee
Since the beginning of September, Mr. Benito Castejón Paz is the new President
of the Spanish Olympic Committee, as well as the new national delegate for
physical education and sport. He thus succeeds Mr. Tomás Pelayo Ros who,
during his term of office at the head of the NOC, had prepared and set in
motion the new programme that Mr. Castejón presented at the ceremony
marking the start of his duties:
1. To draw up a sports policy which plays an important role in society.
2. To respect the unity of sport, at both socio-political and managemant level.
3. To establish a medium and long term sports plan, without aiming particularly
for medals.
4. To fix priorities and extend sport, which is everyone’s right, and succeed in
making it a necessity for the Spanish people so that it becomes a natural
activity for all Spaniards, both men and women, of whatever age.
5. To restructure sport in Spain: for this, to listen to all specialists in sport.
It therefore becomes essential to convene urgently a general assembly of
Spanish sport.
On this last point, Mr. Benito Castejón paid tribute to the ideas and projects
of Mr. Tomás Pelayo on the reorganisation of Spanish sport, ideas which he
approves and by which he is greatly inspired.
Mr. Tomás Pelayo has assured his successor of his “total support for the
promised reorganisation”.
We should like to express our congratulations to Messrs. Tomás Pelayo and
Benito Castejón, the former for the work he has done, and the latter for the
task to which he has bacome attached.
Sports which draw the biggest
crowds
Football, basketball, cycling, tennis.
Sports experiencing the greatest
development
Basketball, handball, tennis, yachting,
football, volleyball, skiing.
Number of practising sportsmen
One Spaniard in 48 practises a sports
activity in the widest sense, and one
in 84 holds a sports licence issued by
the federations.
SPANIARDS AND THE
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS
Many leaders, almost eighty, play an
active role in about twenty International
Federations. Since 1972, one of
them, Mr. Antonio Garcia de la
Fuente*, has been in charge of the
general secretariat of the International
Judo Federation.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Benito Castejón
President of the Spanish Olympic Committee
since 1976.
Born in 1928 at Vigo. Jurist, he has
written many works on administrative
law. National Secretary for Physical
Education and Sport and Secretary
General of the Spanish Olympic Committee
from 1967 to 1970, he is one
of the leading propagators of the
“Sport for all” campaign led by the
Council of Europe. An experienced
sportsman, elected many times to play
for the national hockey team, he was
one of the best Spanish sportsmen in
1953.
José Antonio Elola-Olaso
President of the Spanish Olympic Committee
from 1956 to 1967.
Born on 28th June 1909. At an early
age he was attracted by education
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Count de Vallellano
Anselmo Lopez Martin
and convinced of the benefits of
sport. President of the NOC for just
over ten years, illness forced him to
give up this position. He played an
important role in the organisation in
Spain of the 2nd Ibero-American Athletics
Games, the world cycling championships,
the Nations cross-country
running race, the final tournament of
the European Nations football cup,
among others. He was attributed the
Olympic Diploma of Merit in 1967.
Until his death, many were the leaders
who sought his advice.
Antonio Garcia de la Fuente
Secretary General of the International
Judo Federation since 1973.
Born on 20th October 1939 in Madrid,
judo black belt 3rd dan, appointed
national coach in 1966 and international
referee in 1970, he acceded in
1971 to the presidency of the Spanish
Judo Federation. He is interested in
all the martial arts; he is also 5th dan
in taekwondo, and President of the
European Aikido Association, Vice-
President of the European Karaté
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Union, founder President of the Ibero-
American Judo Association and member
of the Management Committee of
the International Taekwondo Federation.
A talented propagandist, he
founded and manages many reviews,
in particular those of the International
and Spanish Judo Federations (see article
page 544).
Santiago Güell y Lopez,
Baron de Güell
IOC member from 1922 until his death
in 1954.
For thirty-two years, Baron de Güell,
founder and President of the Spanish
Olympic Committee in 1924, was recognised
for his shrewdness, kindness
and good judgement. Devoted to the
Olympic cause and hard working at
IOC meetings, his speeches were
greatly heeded. A sports enthusiast,
his advice was much respected in his
country where he had only friends. His
death on 2nd August 1954 prevented
him from attending the following year
the celebration of the Mediterranean
Games which he had obtained unanimously
for the city of Barcelona and
of which he presided the Organising
Committee.
Pedro de Ybarra y Mac-Mahon,
Baron de Güell
IOC member since 1952.
Born on 28th April 1913 in Bilbao,
Bachelor of Laws, bank manager, he
practised yachting, of which he supports
many clubs. Called upon to
succeed his father-in-law, he joined
the IOC in 1952. Member of the Spanish
Olympic Committee, he held a
vice-presidency and constantly tried
to resolve wisely and diplomatically
the problems which arose over the
years.
Anselmo Lopez Martin
Secretary General of the Spanish
Olympic Committee since 1976.

Born in 1910, he practised various
sports, in particular basketball, swimming
and athletics. President of the
Spanish Basketball Federation, he was
appointed Director of the Sports Department
at the National Delegation of
Physical Education and Sport, of which
he is currently Vice-President. Board
member of the International Basketball
Federation, he presides the International
Mini-Basket Committee. Vice-President
of the COE from 1967 to
1971, he has been chef de mission at
all Olympic Games and Winter Games
since the Olympiad celebration at
Mexico in 1968.
Tomas Pelayo Ros
President of the Spanish Olympic Committee
from 1975 to 1976.
Born in 1928. Lawyer, he was provincial
head of physical education and sport at
Zamora, Cordoba and Barcelona, then
appointed national delegate of physical
education and sport in 1975.
Juan Antonio Samaranch
1st Vice-President of the IOC, of which
he is a member since 1966.
Born on 17th July 1920 in Barcelona.
Industrialist and President of his native
province’s “Diputacion”. Practised
particularly field hockey and boxing.
Member of the national committee of
the Spanish Football Federation and
President of the Spanish Skating Federation,
he resigned in order to devote
more time to his duties within the
NOC and to contribute to the expansion
of the Olympic movement in
Spain. Mainspring of the IInd Mediterranean
Games at Barcelona in 1955,
he has been a respected Vice-President
of the International Committee for the
Mediterranean Games since 1962. Vice-
President of the Spanish NOC in 1955,
he joined the IOC in 1966, one year
before the retirement of President
Elola-Olaso brought him to the presidency
of the Spanish Olympic Committee
from 1967 to 1970.
Although still young, he rapidly obtained
the confidence and friendship of his
IOC colleagues who turned to him for
confidential missions. Member of many
IOC commissions, he became Chief
of Protocol (1968-1975), member of the
Executive Board (1970), President of
the Awards Commission (1973-1975),
President of the Press Commission and
Vice-President of the IOC since 1974.
Fernando Suarez de Tangil y Angulo,
Count de Vallellano
IOC member from 1931 until his resignation
in 1952.
An all-round sportsman from 1906 to
1931 (fencing, riding, shooting, mountaineering),
he never failed to defend
the cause of sport in spite of his important
functions: Permanent Under-
Secretary for Education (1920-1932),
Mayor of Madrid (1924-1928), national
education adviser (1928-1931) and State
councillor (1945-1947). He defended
the continued existence of Spain in
the Olympic world during the Republic,
although it wished to withdraw. He
contributed to the sports reorganisation
of Spain. Becoming Minister of
Public Works, he resigned from the
IOC in 1952.
Gonzalo de Figueroa y Torres,
Count de Mejorada del Campo,
Marquess de Villamejor
IOC member from 1902 until his death
in 1921.
Born in Madrid on 18th August 1861.
Archer, he participated in the 1900
Olympic Games. Contacted by Coubertin,
he agreed to become the first
IOC member in Spain in 1902. Mining
industrialist, respected politician, he
was Mayor of Madrid in 1908 and President
of the Spanish Riding Society.
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