MADRID — A dispute rooted in sports and politics has emerged in Spain’s northern Basque Country, where a unique local sport has become the center of a broader conversation about regional identity and nationalism. The controversy revolves around the Basque Country’s participation as an independent nation in international competitions featuring pelota vasca, a traditional sport that once graced the Olympic stage but is now a rare sight globally.
Contention escalated to the point that even the highest echelons of sports arbitration were drawn in for intervention. This discord led to an unprecedented event last weekend: an international match in the pelota vasca Nations League where the Basque Country and Spain faced off against each other.
Euskadi, as the Basque Country is locally known, possesses a distinct cultural heritage, influenced by a history marked by tumultuous separatist aspirations. In the late 1950s, the Basque separatist movement emerged under the leadership of ETA, a militant group that ended its armed struggle in 2011 and dissolved formally in 2018.
Pelota vasca combines athleticism and tradition, with players aiming to hit a ball against a high wall using their hands or rackets. Various styles dictate different court dimensions, yet all share a prominent front wall and often a high sidewall. The sport’s largest court measures 54 meters in length. Within the Basque Country, the game holds a status akin to a national sport.
During the awards ceremony in Gernika-Lumo, a hometown crowd reacted with jeers as the Spanish national anthem resonated through the venue. On the sporting front, the Basque Country claimed the men’s title while Spain triumphed in the women’s competition.
The Spanish federation voiced strong objections to the Basque team’s official recognition, citing alleged procedural irregularities by the international governing body. It accused external pressures on Basque athletes who volunteered to represent Spain. To settle the dispute, Spain sought a resolution from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, questioning the legitimacy of the international federation’s altered bylaws. The outcome remains pending, with Spain’s representatives emphasizing that legality, rather than regional opposition, is at the heart of their stance.
Within Spain, federation officials expressed frustration over a perceived lack of government backing, compounded by remarks from José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, the nation’s top sports authority, who suggested pelota vasca does not qualify as a Spanish sport due to its limited national play. Meanwhile, the Spanish federation highlighted the sport’s strong presence within the country, claiming over 10,000 active players.
The political leadership within the Basque Country, however, celebrated the international recognition as a monumental milestone, marking years of effort hindered by inadequate legal grounding in regional statutes. Aitor Esteban, head of the Basque Nationalist Party, hailed the development as both significant and thrilling, underscoring its importance in the broader quest for national recognition.
Nevertheless, the Spanish federation refused to acknowledge the Nations League as an official competition, citing unmet protocols required to host the event under Spanish jurisdiction. Despite this, it took part to honor the athletes and prevent potential repercussions for future championships scheduled in Argentina.
The Basque pelota federation was jubilant at the materialization of a national team, emphasizing that the sport is an intrinsic part of regional heritage and identity. “We are committed to nurturing and fostering pelota vasca. Our future brims with optimism,” it declared.
Beyond Spain and the Basque Country, participants in the Nations League included teams from the United States, France, Mexico, and the Philippines. Pelota vasca found its way into the Olympics as an official sport in 1900 and appeared as a demonstration sport, notably in Barcelona in 1992. Jai alai, a variant of pelota vasca, enjoys popularity in parts of the United States, primarily Florida, and is also seen in France, Argentina, Mexico, and Cuba.