Sport in the Dominican Republic

Sports are a central part of the culture of the Dominican Republic, and are practiced in the whole territory since the native inhabitants were living in the island.

Baseball

Baseball is by far the most popular sport in the Dominican Republic today.^[1] After the United States, the Dominican Republic has the second-highest number of baseball players in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Dominican Republic also has its own baseball league, the Dominican Winter Baseball League, which runs its season from October to January. It comprises six teams: Águilas Cibaeñas (Cibao Eagles), Estrellas Orientales (Eastern Stars), Gigantes del Cibao (Cibao Giants), Leones del Escogido (Chosen Lions), Tigres del Licey (Licey Tigers), and Toros del Este (Eastern Bulls). Many MLB and minor league players play in the Dominican League during their own off-season.

The Dominican Republic has participated in the [Baseball World Cup], winning one Gold (1949), three Silver (1942, 1950, 1952), and two Bronze (1943, 1969), placing it seventh, right after Puerto Rico's one Gold, four Silver, and four Bronze. (Cuba holds a record twenty-five Gold, two Silver and two Bronze.)

The country also participated in the 2006 World Baseball Classic, the inaugural tournament, in which they finished semi–finalists along with Korea. In the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the Dominican Republic became the first team to win the event unbeaten. They beat Puerto Rico in the Championship game to win the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

Basketball

The National Federation of Basketball holds every year a professional league, the National Basketball League, LNB (Spanish: "Liga Nacional de Baloncesto"). The National Basketball Association (NBA) have some players who represent the Dominican Republic, such as:

• Francisco García, guard–forward for the Sacramento Kings; first round pick in the 2005 NBA Draft
• Al Horford, power forward, third overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2007 NBA Draft
• Karl-Anthony Towns, center, first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft

Boxing

Boxing is an important sport, and the country has produced scores of world-class fighters and world champions, both professionals and amateurs, among them Carlos Teo Cruz, Leo Cruz, Julio César Green, Joan Guzmán, and Juan Carlos Payano.

Football

Football is also a popular sport in the Dominican Republic. The governing body is the Federación Dominicana de Fútbol. The Primera División de Republica Dominicana is the top division of the Federación Dominicana de Fútbol. There have been a couple of FIFA Goal Programme projects that have been designed to further improve the infrastructure and facilities in the country in recent years.

Volleyball

Volleyball was introduced by U.S. marines in 1916.^[2][3] The first international competition came in 1934 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with the Caribbean Volleyball Tournament. The most important goal for the women's team was winning the gold medal at the 2003 Panamerican Games. Starting from 2007, the Dominican Volleyball Federation holds the Dominican Volleyball League every year. It is a professional volleyball league with eight participating teams in both genders. As of 2014, The women's senior team is ranked 7th.^[4] in the FIVB ranking and the men's senior team is ranked 33rd.^[5]

Many Dominicans play at international clubs in America, Europe and Asia, like Brenda Castillo, Bethania de la Cruz and Elvis Contreras.

Olympics

The first Olympic participation was in 1964 with just one athlete, Alberto Torres de la Mota ("El Gringo" )^[6] in track & field (100 m). The first medallist was the boxer Pedro Julio Nolasco who won the bronze medal in the 1984 Olympic Games. The first gold medal, and second medal, came by the two-time world champion 400 m hurdles Félix Sánchez in the 2004 Olympic Games. The recent and more successful Olympiad, Beijing 2008, boxer Manuel Félix Díaz and the taekwondo practitioner Gabriel Mercedes won golden and silver medals respectively. The Dominican Republic Olympic Committee (DROC) is represented by its president Mr. Luis Mejía Oviedo.

Pan American Games

The Dominican Republic hosted the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

Central American and Caribbean Games

Dominican Republic hosted two Central American and Caribbean Games, the editions of 1974 at Santo Domingo, and the 1986 at Santiago.

Other sports

Luis Castillo, defensive end played in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers. Castillo was the cover athlete for the Spanish language version of Madden NFL 08.^[7]

Rugby union is a minor sport, but there is a Dominican Republic side, which has played at least one international.

Other sports include combat sports of judo, and professional wrestlers Arcadio Brito, Rafael Sanchez and Bronco # 1.

In 2014, Victor Estrella became the nation's first top 100 tennis player.

References

1. Harvey, Sean (January 2006). The Rough Guide to The Dominican Republic. Rough Guides. p. 59. ISBN 1-84353-497-5.
2. FIVB. "2008 World Grand Prix Dominican Republic Team Roster". Retrieved 2009-11-01.
3. Dominicana On Line. "Voleibol" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2010-06-15.
4. FIVB. "FIVB World Ranking - Women". Retrieved 2014-11-15.
5. FIVB. "FIVB World Ranking - Men". Retrieved 2014-11-15.
6. TOKYO 1964 Organizing Committee (November 1, 1964). "Official Olympic Report, 1964 Tokyo Volume 1 Part 1" (PDF). Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVIII Olympiad. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
7. Shanahan, Tom (2007-03-24). "San Diego Hall of Champions - Sports at Lunch, Luis Castillo and Felix Sanchez". San Diego Hall of Champions. Archived from the original on 2007-05-05. Retrieved 2007-05-29.