The document provides information about the Basque Country region of Spain, known as Euskadi. It notes that Euskadi has 2.1 million inhabitants and includes the Basque language and culture. The region has some autonomy over taxation but a different system than Catalonia. Major cities include Bilbao, Vitoria, and San Sebastian. The document also discusses the history of Basque terrorism by the group ETA, traditional Basque sports like rowing and stone dragging, and the national sport of pelota.

1. Ses 13
Sports&Society
Xavier Carmaniu Mainadé

2. Note the names
 “País vasco” / Basque Country: spanish name for the
Autonomous Comunity.
 Euskadi: name in basque.
 Euskal Herria: in basque language it means: ”land of
basques”, includes Navarra territory and french Basque
Country.
 Similar to Catalonia and Catalan Territories (Valencia, Balearic
Islands and French Catalonia.
 Euskadi has 2.100.000 inhabitants.

3. Maps and flag
Ikurriña (basque flag)
Euskal HerriaEuskadi

4. Parts of Euskal Herria

5. Language in Euskadi
 Euskera or basque.
 Euskera doesn’t have as much importance as catalan
does in Catalonia.
 Euskera is a language without an specific origin: it’s
not romanic (no ties to latin as does catalán or
spanish).
 To understand Euskadi well you have to know basque
culture (languae, music, literature, media…).

6. Government
 The name of President of Euskadi: “lehendakari”
(basque word).
 They have an autonomous state but different from
Catalonia (collect taxes and give a part to Spain. In
Catalonia is the other way around: Spain gives a part to
Catalonia).
 The basque tax collecting system is called “economic
agreement”.
 Before the growth of catalan separatism in the recent years,
Catalonia wanted the same tax system as Euskadi.

7. Principales ciudades
Vitoria
(Gasteiz)
Bilbao (Bilbo)
San Sebastián
(Donosti o Donostia)

8. Guernica

9. The Guernica tree (an
oak) a symbol of basque
freedom (the place
where politicians took
oath).
1937 nazi aerial attack in
Guernica
(inspired Picasso painting).

10. Terrorism
 1959 ETA was founded (Euskadi Ta
Askatasuna: ”Basque country and
freedom").
 Separatist basque terrorist group.
 Huge influence on spanish politics until
XXIst century.
 Terrorism: very complex and deep issue in
Euskadi. Terrorism divides people (pro-ETA
and against ETA).
 They have killed cops, military officers,
bussinesmen, politicians.
 Random bomb attacks (Barcelona
“Hipercor Attack").
 2011 ETA announce the end of terrorist
actions.

12. Soccer
Athletic Club de Bilbao Real Sociedad
Club for only
basque
players
Club from San Sebastián

13. TRAINERAS
Trainera (traditional
rowing):
Typical boats of fishermen
of Cantabric sea (the name
of this part of Atlantic
Ocean).
Now rowing competitions
are celebrated (San
Sebastián beach, for
example).

14. OXEN STONE DRAGGING
Stone dragging
competitions with
oxen or groups of
men.
A very rural sport.

15. TRUNK CUTTING
Aizkolari: basque
name for the trunk
cutters (in basque
language: "person
that works with an
axe").
Competitions
between aizkolaris:
winner was the one
who cut the trunk (or
trunks) first.

16. ROCK LIFTING
Harri-jasotze
(harri: rock, jaso: to lift).
You have to lift rocks of
different weights: 100, 112'5,
125 o 212,5 kgs (220, 248,
275, 467 pounds)
Record: Iñaki Perurena
lifted a 100 kgs. rock 1000
times in 5 hours and 4
minutes.

17. BASQUE PELOTA
 In euskera: pilota.
 Players: pelotaris.
 Name of the court: court wall (“frontón”).
 Also popular in America (USA and Latin America).
 Many different varieties:
 Pelota mano. (ball with hand)
 Cesta-punta (o jai alai).
 Remonte.
 Share.
 Paleta goma, paleta argentina o pelota paleta.
 Paleta negra.
 Etc.

18. Jai Alai (cesta punta)
Above: paleta // Below: pelota mano