Bolivia Weekly » Sports

Real Potosi Beats Brazil’s Flamengo with Ronaldinho 2-1

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:14:46 +0000

Ronaldinho and Flamengo lose to Real Potosi.

In a historic match, Bolivia’s Real Potosi soccer team has defeated one of the world’s best clubs, Flamengo from Brazil in the Copa Libertadores yesterday. Real Potosi will play the next round in Río de Janeiro against Olimpia (Paraguay), Emelec (Ecuador) y Lanús (Argentina) for the group 2 title. Flamengo’s Luiz Antonio started the game with an early goal but Potosi’s Claudio Centurión responded by heading in a gaol to tie the game at 1-1. With 12 minutes left, Edgardo Brittes kicked the winning goal for Potosi that left the Brazilians stunned. Flamengo had spent nine days training at high altitude in preparation for the game and had stated that altitude would not be a factor. Flamego put both their stars Ronaldinho on defense and Deivid as forward to no avail.

To learn more in Spanish see: http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20120126/real-potosi-vence-por-2-1-a-flamengo-por-la_158077_329914.html

Cyclist Gallardo Wins First Stage of the Vuelta de Santa Cruz

admin — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:34:38 +0000

Bolivian cyclist Horacio Gallardo from Tarija beat his opponent Yamil Montaño by just milliseconds in the first stage of the 20th annual Vuelta a Santa Cruz. His time was 3:42:05, the exact same time as Montaño. The competition began yesterday in the Plaza del Estudiante and made its way to Warnes, where the various Bolivian cycling teams jostled for position. The pedaling conditions were perfect until Montero where large trucks began entering and the peloton had to slow down to avoid traffic. There was a bad crash that injured several riders when a rider from team Minero fell right before a speed bump and several other riders rode over his back. The weather turned to rain at the end of the stage. Today the cyclists will complete the next stage to Buenavista beginning at 2 p.m.

To learn more in Spanish see: http://www.eldeber.com.bo/2011/2011-10-13/vernotaahora.php?id=111012213827

Bolivian Golfer Leads Youth Tournament

admin — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:20:00 +0000

Bolivian golfer José Luis Montaño Jr. currently leads the youth golf “Copa Los Andes” being held in the Asunción, Paraguay Golf Club. Montaño is ahead of the best youth golfers from Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and other South American countries as the tournament enters its last day today. He leads with 150 strokes to Colombian Mauricio Restrepo’s and VenezuelanManuel Torres’s 152 strokes. Bolivia is currently in fifth place in the teams competition with rankings: Venezuela (302), Chile (306), Argentina (307), Colombia (312), Bolivia (316), Brazil (317), Paraguay (322), Ecuador (332), Perú (344) and Uruguay (346).

To learn more in Spanish see: http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20110930/montano-es-lider-en-el-sudamericano-de-golf_143779_296428.html

Bolivia Dominates South American Cycling Championships

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 11:30:58 +0000

Bolivia dominated the South American Cycling Championships which began in Sucre and finished with a steep descent today from the Churuquella mountain. Bolivians got first in every category. Yamil Montaño won men’s elite, Gladys Choque won the women’s elite, María Teresa Nina won women under 17 and Mario Checa won men sub-19. The race traversed a tough course including asphalt, cobblestones and dirt tracks. In the men’s category Deiby Reque came in second and Chilean Eduardo Saenz, came in third. In the women’s field Gladys Choque pulled ahead during the cycle cross section and gained a substantial lead on her competitors. In the younger women’s category María Teresa Nina placed well ahead of the heavily favored Paraguayan Agua Marina Espínola. María Teresa sister, María René, placed third and joined her on the podium. Overall, Bolivia dominated the competition with 11 gold, 12 silver, and 9 bronze medals. Peru came in second with 4 golds, 2 silvers and 6 bronzes followed by Chile and Paraguay.

To learn more in Spanish see: http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20110907/bolivia-suma-cuatro-medallas-de-oro-en-sudamericano-de_140764_289003.html

Bolivia Loses 2-0 to Costa Rica

admin — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:53:57 +0000

Costa Rica defeated Bolivia’s national football (soccer) team yesterday 2-0 in Jujuy, Argentina. Presidenta Evo Morales had flown in to watch the game and explained that Bolivia played well but made two careless mistakes that cost them two goals. Morales told the press that he is hopeful that Bolivia can come back to win their next game by more than two which might put them into first or second place in Group A in the Americas Cup. Morales praised Bolivian technical director Gustavo Quinteros, and wished him and his “excellent players” great strength in upcoming games.

To learn more in Spanish see: http://copa-america2011.lostiempos.com/1645_bolivia/1189001_evo-morales-atribuye-la-derrota-ante-costa-rica-a-descuidos-del-equipo-boliviano.html

Volleyball Legends in Bolivia

admin — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:12:09 +0000

Americans Liz Pagano and Kimberly McGuiven took the Bolivians, Johanna Balderrama and Claudia Pavisic by 2-0 (21-13 and 21-17), to win the title to the fourth stage of the Worldwide Circuit of Beach Volleyball that ended April 17th on the field of Cochabamba’s Olympic Club, located on Costanera avenue.

Liz Pagano is a Beach Volleyball legend, and at age 38 shows no signs of slowing down, winning “Player” and “Athlete” of the year awards with admirable regularity. For the Bolivian team to be competing at this level shows a tenacity and vigor that is equally commendable. Johanna Balderrama and Claudia Pavisic have earned the pride of the Andes with their triumphs on the sand. Brava!

Dozens of Americans come to Bolivia every year, from US Women’s team members to Projects Abroad volunteers, to coach Bolivians in what is called “Wally” hereabouts. Like soccer, “Wally” can be played on practically any surface, with only a net (or string) and a ball. Kudos all around for this fun and important endeavor.

By Ed Young

Photo Credit: Los Tiempos

To learn more in Spanish see:

http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20110418/brasil-y-estados-unidos-logran-el-titulo-en-voleibol-de_122014_243965.html

Volleyball volunteer projects abroad link: http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/volunteer-projects/sports/volleyball/bolivia/

Bolivia’s Young Runners & Marathon Potential

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 12:56:33 +0000

Yesterday, radio Radio Erbol hosted its 6th annual Children’s Races in La Paz’s Hernando Siles stadium. The races featured hundreds of children from the ages of 9 to 12 from all over the country competing in the La Paz’s withering altitude of 3,637 meters (11,932 feet). The respective girls and boys winner were Blanca Barreto and Erwin Jesús Ticona who ran the one kilometer course in close to 5 minutes. Yesterday also marked the London marathon, dominated unsurprisingly by Kenyans. Many point to three main factors in Kenya’s success: high altitude, poverty, and a strong running culture. Bolivia certainly has these first two elements but their running culture lags far behind that of Kenya. It was not always so, during the Incan empire the entire civilization depended on the work of runners called Chasquis to deliver royal messages and supplies between different way-stations (tambos) in the Andean mountains. These incredible runners allowed the Incan emperors to eat freshly caught fish from the ocean in their mountain stronghold of Cusco and deftly command massive armies thousands of kilometers away over jagged peaks and dense jungle. Bolivia has produced Olympic marathoners like Policarpio Calizaya Huaca who represented Bolivia in three summer Olympics. Bolivian Juan Camacho also competed in three Olympic marathons and posted a blazing 2:17:49 time in a marathon in the Netherlands in 1984 which holds to this day as the fastest marathon ever run by a Bolivian. Remarkable as this Bolivian best of 2:17:49 may be, the record has held for 27 years and Bolivia Weekly urges aspiring young Bolivian runners to set their sights on this and other goals. Bolivia shares all the geographic, physiological and social factors that Kenyan uses to dominate the distance running world but lacks the kind of public support and enthusiasm for running found in Kenya. Bolviia has every potential to once again become dominant in distance running should the government and people decide to prioritize this healthy, competitive and culturally relevant sport once again for the Chasquis of the future.

To learn more in Spanish see:

http://www.erbol.com.bo/noticia.php?identificador=2147483943386

Bolivar Auctions Messi Jersey for Disaster Victims

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:40:38 +0000

The Bolivar football team presented Evo Morales received a jersey from football star Leonel Messi to auction on behalf of Bolivian landslide and flood victims. The connection was made through the technical director of the Bolivar team and Argentine Ángel Guillermo Hoyos who was briefly Messi´s trainer in Barcelona. The President of Bolviar said, ¨We´ve brought this Messi jersey here via Álgel Guillermo Hoyos, from his collection so that Bolivar can auction it to help Bolivian flood victims.¨ The jersey was delivered in the Bolivian government palace in La Paz to President Morales who thanked Messi and called him the best player in the world.

To learn more in Spanish see:

http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20110315/evo-recibe-la-camiseta-de-messi-para-subastarla-en-beneficio-de_117031_232474.html

Morales and Dakar Officials Discuss Bringing Competition to Bolivia

Allyson Herbst — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 15:59:47 +0000

LA PAZ – President Evo Morales and officials from the Dakar Rally met today to discuss holding the 2013 competition in Salar de Uyuni or another region of the country, after being eliminated from the list of 2012 choices.

The Bolivian leader met with the race’s director, Etienne Lavigne, as well as Gregory Murac, the Foreign Affairs representative of the Amaury Sport Organization (ASO), the firm that organizes the competition.

Lavigne told reporters in La Paz that Bolivia was eliminated from the list of 2012 hosts because little time is left for a complete evaluation, but that they would be considered for 2013.

The Dakar organizer added they needed time and better surveys of the land and that it would be at least September before they would have an answer for Bolivia and neighboring Peru.

The Dakar Rally, sometimes referred to as “The Most Dangerous Race in the World,” is a yearly competition in which hundreds of teams from dozens of countries race by motorcycle, car, truck and ATV across challenging off-road terrain. Originally beginning in Paris, France and ending in Dakar, Senegal, the race moved to South America in 2009 for security reasons and has remained there since. This year’s rally took place in early January in Chile and Argentina, with 430 teams participating.

In the future, Bolivia wants the ASO to include Salar de Uyuni in the race, a desert of 10,000 square kilometers (3860 square miles) 3,700 meters (over 12,000 ft) above sea-level, located in the department of Potosí next to the Chilean border. The nation also wants the ASO to explore other options in Gran Chaco (forested plain between the Andes and the Paraguay River) and southern Bolivia.

Minister of Communication, Iván Cenlas, said that Morales has promised “total cooperation and support” in bringing the Dakar Rally to Bolivia and that he will begin working towards this objective immediately.

To learn more in Spanish, see:

http://www.lostiempos.com/diario/actualidad/deportes/20110304/morales-y-ejecutivos-del-dakar-negocian-paso-por-bolivia-en_115685_229395.html

Under-15 Futbol Team Wins Youth Olympics Gold

Nate — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:41:50 +0000

In a 5-0 victory over Haiti yesterday, Bolivia´s under-15 men´s national team took the gold medal in the Youth Olympic Games. The Bolivian team scored 19 goals in their four games and were only scored upon once in the tournament. The Bolivian squad had entered the tournament as the favorite for the gold but the team´s unshakeable performance throughout the course of the Games proved its dominance. Despite the expulsion of the team´s star striker, Rodrigo Mejido, after he scored the game´s first goal within the first three minutes of the match, the team rallied to clinch the victory in the second half. To celebrate their victory the Bolivian team will visit Malaysia from Singapore, where the 2010 Youth Olympic Games were held this year.

For more in Spanish see:

http://www.laprensa.com.bo/noticias/26-8-2010/noticias/26-08-2010_3019.php