Buenos Aires, Argentina will host the International Olympic Committee when it meets for the historic 125th IOC international meeting this September 7 to 10. The strengths of this popular sports travel destination were featured this weekend. Leaders of FIFA, the international soccer federation, are in Buenos Aires for the January 6 soccer match between home team Argentina and archrival Mexico. On January 5, the city’s world famous Palermo Hippodrome Race Track presented the U.S.A. Cup, one of the most prestigious events in horse racing.
Together with the popular Argentine Gaucho bronco and folklore festival in nearby Buenos Aires Province this weekend, these sports events spotlighted the special competitive advantage that sets Argentina apart in the world of sports. That is passion. Famous for the passionate rhythms and movements of the Tango, Argentina’s spectators do not simply watch. They engage themselves in sports with total dedication and boundless aspiration.
Argentina’s historic excellence in the equestrian sports of show jumping and polo set very high standards. Rider’s horses are showered with tender loving care, literally. Spectators can see the horses being showered and groomed to ensure the maximum comfort for peak performance.
Sports journalists are held in high esteem in Argentina. While in the U.S.A. and Brazil it is now popular for the top Olympic athletes to be selected for honors by fans voting on the Internet, Argentina still follows the tradition of having local sports journalists vote for the most admired athlete distinction. On December 19, Argentine boxer Sergio Martinez was awarded the 2012 title of "Olimpia de Oro." Martinez bested Taekwondo gold medalist Sebastian Crismanich by three votes to clinch this 2012 Olympic Athlete of the Year Award, and also surpassed local soccer legend Lionel Messi.
There is also an unusual geographic circumstance in Buenos Aires that maximizes spectator engagement. Most central city residents live in tall high rises, as high a four hundred feet, fronting broad avenues. That makes it possible for nearly one million Buenos Aires residents to see polo, horse racing, rowing or sailing competitions from the comfort of their own homes.
These good examples promote active participation in sports and fitness. The Puerto Madero Yacht Club adjacent to downtown Buenos Aires and the Hilton Hotel has a wide range of instruction and racing programs. Rowers flock to the area on weekends for affordable scull rentals and “pick-up” rowing races. There are more fitness studios than movie theaters in trendy areas such as Palermo and Recoleta. Instructors benefit from specialized physical education schools whose students follow a rigorous all-sports, all-the-time curriculum.
In fact, fitness is so important in Buenos Aires, local firm “Notabil” sells a birthday card for sports club members to give to fellow gym members on their birthday. These passionate wishes speak for themselves: “Happy Birthday Champion! On your birthday your gym buddies want to tell you we like you and wish you good humor, a very brief one- set rest from your workout routine, and the success that comes from never giving up! Many Happy Returns!”
Read more about how to get the most from Olympic visits and business incentive programs in my articles at this link: www.ufollow.com/authors/max.donner
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