Culture of Gibraltar
Encyclopedia
The culture of Gibraltar reflects Gibraltarians
' diverse origins. While there are Spanish
and British
influences, a result of the territory's status as a British overseas territory and its proximity to Spain
, the ethnic origins of most Gibraltarians are a mix of Andalusian Spaniards
, Genoese
, Maltese
, Portuguese
and British
. The main religion is Christianity
, the majority group being the Roman Catholic Church
, then the Church of England
. There is a long established Jewish community, a number of Hindu
India
ns and a Moroccan
Muslim
population. Gibraltarians of Genoese origin came to The Rock
in the 18th century, with the Maltese and Portuguese following in the 19th century, coming to work and trade in the British military base
.
During the Second World War, the whole civilian population of The Rock was evacuated, in the interests of the British military, which decreed that "the fortress comes first". They were moved to the UK, particularly to Fulham
and Kensington
in London
and Ballymena
in Northern Ireland
, as well as Jamaica
and Madeira
. This served to strengthen a Gibraltarian, as opposed to simply British, identity, and after the war, there was a successful campaign for repatriation.
, were those to the UK. To some in Britain
itself, this sense of Britishness
is often looked upon with a mixture of incomprehension and ridicule. The fact that they are largely of Mediterranean
appearance and speak an Andalusian Spanish
variant, known as Llanito
gives Gibraltarians a strong resemblance to Andalusian Spaniards
, despite the Gibraltarian's distinct cultural heritage and identity.
. The Rock also forms part of the Church of England
diocese covering mainland Europe
, with a "Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
". There is also a Methodist Church and St Andrew's Church
(part of the Church of Scotland
).
There is a small (600 members) but very influential Jewish minority, active in business and politics, and five synagogue
s. Most Moroccans
are Muslim
, and there is a large mosque
at Europa Point
, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
, paid for by Saudi Arabia
. Most India
ns are Hindu
, with their own local temple.
Additionally there are two very active congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses
sharing the same Kingdom Hall, one has meetings in English
and the other in Spanish
.
, "Llanito
", being the vernacular
language of the territory. Intermarriage between Gibraltarians and Spaniards resulted in many people having relatives on the other side of the frontier, known in Spanish as La Verja or 'the fence'. These people were badly affected by the closure of the frontier in 1969, which even saw telephone links severed, so that the only way that families could communicate was to shout across the border gates. Others took the more cumbersome and costly route of travelling first from Gibraltar to Tangiers by ferry and then taking another ferry to Algeciras
, before taking a final coach to La Línea de la Concepción
. A journey that would take half a day, when the end destination would have been within walking distance under normal circumstances.
Since the frontier with Spain was reopened, ties with the hinterland, known as the "Campo de Gibraltar
", have increased, with many buying property in places like La Línea de la Concepción
, Sotogrande
and further afield like the Costa del Sol
, where prices are considerably lower. On the weekends, many flock across the frontier, with livelier nightclubs and bars than in Gibraltar. Younger Gibraltarians have considerable exposure to popular culture from Spain, and even vice versa, the pop group "Taxi
" having found success on the Spanish charts, virtually all of its songs being in Spanish. In addition, Gibraltarians of all ages are often avid supporters of Spanish football
teams like FC Barcelona
and Real Madrid C.F.
as well as teams like Manchester United F.C.
and Arsenal F.C.
.
However, the Gibraltar Football Association
's application for membership of UEFA
, which would enable it to participate in the European Football Championship
s and the Football World Cup, has met with strong opposition from the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This is seen as yet another attempt to deny the existence of Gibraltar internationally.
While Gibraltarians have multiple identities, seeing themselves to varying degrees as Gibraltarian, British and European, they do not generally identify with the Spanish state. While some in Britain's Foreign Office would like to see this closening of ties result in an 'osmosis' between The Rock and the "Campo de Gibraltar", there is no prospect of Gibraltarians accepting absorption into Spain. A trip across the frontier, even to La Línea, is still described as "going to Spain".
in the UK and not in Spain. Many university graduates remain in the UK to pursue careers there. After the Second World War, most evacuees were repatriated, but some stayed on, while many also moved to the UK, thereby increasing family ties with the "mother country". While television
from Spain is easily received and widely watched, the availability of British television via satellite
, particularly Sky
and the BBC
, means that Gibraltarians are as familiar with British news and popular culture as people in the UK itself. Many Gibraltarians sometimes refer to British people
with the pejorative term "guiri
s", which is Spanish slang for foreigner or Northern European.
, Kyle
, Nigel
, James
, John
, Marie, Natalie
, Samantha
, etc with surnames originating from all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Surnames in Gibraltar include those originating from:
Italy Genoa
E.g. Alecio, Bossano, Bottaro, Canessa, Cavilla, Culatto, Danino, Felice
, Ferrary, Ferro, Galliano, Imossi, Isola, Lavarello, Licudi, Massetti, Montegriffo, Olivero, Parody, Passano, Pitaluga, Pizzarello, Povedano, Ramo
, Risso
India
E.g. Aswani, Budhrani, Karnani, Kumar
, Mahtani
Malta
E.g. Attard
, Azzopardi
, Borg
, Buhagiar, Buttigieg, Calleja, Canepa, Camilleri
, Caruana
, Debbatista Farrugia
, Mifsud
, Robba, Sant
, Spiteri
, Teuma, Xerri, Zammit
Portugal
E.g. Britto, Coelho
, Correia
, Gonçalves, Mascarenhas
, Netto
, Oliveira
, Tavares
Israel Sephardic Jewish
E.g. Abudarham, Attias, Belilo, Benady
, Benamor, Cohen
, Federico
, Gabay, Hassan
, Levy
, Serfaty, Serruya, Wahnon
Spain
E.g. Asquez, Borrell
, Garcia
, Gomez, Gonzalez
, Lopez
, Linares, Mañasco, Martinez
, Ocaña, Ramirez
, Reyes, Rodriguez, Sanchez
, Santos, Vallejo
United Kingdom
E.g. Corby, Crisp
, Feetham
, Finlayson
, Francis
, Hook
, Holmes, Jones
, Randall
, Richardson
, Tewkesbury
.
The UK originally regarded Gibraltarians as British Overseas Territories citizen
s. In 1981 Gibraltarians successfully campaigned against this classification under the British Nationality Act
, which would have deprived them of the right of abode in the UK, along with other colonial subjects. This was partly due to Gibraltar's status as part of the then European Community (now European Union
). As a result the Gibraltarians acquired the right to register as full British citizens.
British passports issued in Gibraltar differ from those issued in the UK, in that they feature on the cover the word "Gibraltar" underneath "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Whereas UK-issued passports state that "Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty the Queen to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance", Gibraltar-issued passports state that that it is the Governor of Gibraltar
who requests and requires this.
In 2004 an electoral register taken for the purposes of elections for the European Parliament
showed that there were only 95 persons with the status of BOTC. Spain opposed the enfranchisement of the Gibraltarians in EU elections on the basis of the misconception that Gibraltarians were not full British citizens, but Commonwealth
citizens, despite Commonwealth citizen
s living in the UK having always been able to vote in European elections.
s. Historically, many came with the British military or as civil servants, with many marrying locals, and registering as Gibraltarians themselves, although any British citizen resident on The Rock for at least six months may vote. With the decline of the military presence, and the introduction of self-government, most from the UK instead come to work in the offshore finance sector. Many affluent people from the UK and elsewhere are classed as "High Net Worth Individuals", who receive tax concessions in return for buying property and residing locally for at least part of the year. More recently, many futures traders have come to the Rock, since the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE) switched to electronic trading in 1999, thereby reducing the need to be in London
. Some in Gibraltar have criticised the current government's policy, on the grounds that too much is being done to develop luxury properties for 'High Net Worth Individuals', and not enough to develop property for local people, a common complaint in many other small offshore jurisdictions. However, this should not be construed as hostility to British people or expatriates.
, with many workers coming over by ferry and staying in government hostels. Although they paid income tax and social insurance, they were denied the right to either permanent residence or citizenship, only having renewable work permits. This policy has prompted criticism from human rights groups in the UK, who describe living and working conditions for Moroccans in Gibraltar as degrading.
ns in Gibraltar are in business, many of the shops on the Rock's Main Street being Indian-owned. initially not able to obtain citizenship, an increasing number have done so.
Under the chairmanship of the Minister, a Gibraltar Sports Advisory Council has been set up to advise the Government of Gibraltar on all matters relating to sport.
The Government recognizes the benefits derived from participation in sports and recreational activities. Importance is given to the availability of suitable facilities for the practice of sport. There are a large number of Sports facilities in Gibraltar, of varying standards. These provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy sport as a recreation and for the serious sports enthusiasts to improve standards and participate in local and International events.
There are, at the moment, eighteen Gibraltar Sports Associations that have gained official recognition from their respective International Governing Bodies. Others, including the Gibraltar National Olympic Committee, have submitted applications for recognition which are being considered.
In late 1999 a Sports Development Unit was set up to assist Gibraltar governing bodies of sport and Educational establishments to improve standards.
Gibraltar's resident population is active in sport and standards are, by and large, rather high, in relation to Gibraltar's population. Participation in officially recognised or other sports events, abroad or in Gibraltar, is welcomed by Gibraltar sports persons.
Gibraltar's sports facilities are also being used by foreign sports persons for 'warm-weather' training. This practice is being encouraged and more and better facilities are projected in order to improve the product for locals and visitors alike.
The GFA was formed as an increasing number of football clubs were coming into existence in Gibraltar, and the association was designed to bring some form of organisation to the game there. Between the association's formation and 1907 the only football competition in Gibraltar was the Merchant's Cup. However, in 1907 the GFA established a league to complement the existing cup competition.
By 1901, the GFA had established a representative "national" team, competing against military teams. This representative team continued to play down the years, their highlight probably being a draw against Real Madrid in 1949.
The GFA affiliated with The Football Association
in 1909, but is currently trying to become a full member of UEFA so that its national team can compete in the European Football Championship and the Football World Cup.
In 1909 the league grew to two divisions, and it currently has three divisions which clubs can be promoted and relegated between at the end of each season.
The Gibraltar Cricket Club was formed in 1883, and formed the backbone of civilian cricket until well into the 20th Century.
In 1890, a ship carrying the Australian cricket team on the way to a tour of England, docked in Gibraltar Harbour after a collision with two other ships. The Australians played a game against a Gibraltar Garrison team. The local side were dismissed for just 25, and the Australians won the game, scoring 150/8.
Gibraltar first participated in the ICC Trophy in 1982, and have played every tournament since, with the exception of the 2005 tournament, for which they failed to qualify. They have also competed in the European Championship on every occasion since it began in 1996.
plays all its games in nearby Spain.
Gibraltarian people
The Gibraltarians are a cultural group native to Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea.- Origins :...
' diverse origins. While there are Spanish
Culture of Spain
The culture of Spain is based on a variety of influences.The Visigothic Kingdom left a sense of a united Christian Hispania that was going to be welded in the Reconquista. Muslim influences were strong during the period of 711 AD to the 15th century, especially linguistically...
and British
Culture of the United Kingdom
The culture of the United Kingdom refers to the patterns of human activity and symbolism associated with the United Kingdom and its people. It is informed by the UK's history as a developed island country, major power, and its composition of four countries—England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and...
influences, a result of the territory's status as a British overseas territory and its proximity to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, the ethnic origins of most Gibraltarians are a mix of Andalusian Spaniards
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
, Genoese
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
, Maltese
Maltese people
The Maltese are an ethnic group indigenous to the Southern European nation of Malta, and identified with the Maltese language. Malta is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
and British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
. The main religion is Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, the majority group being the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, then the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
. There is a long established Jewish community, a number of Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns and a Moroccan
Moroccan people
The Moroccan people are a people that share a common Moroccan culture, ancestry and speak the Moroccan variant of the Arabic language or a Berber language as a mother tongue....
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
population. Gibraltarians of Genoese origin came to The Rock
Rock of Gibraltar
The Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
in the 18th century, with the Maltese and Portuguese following in the 19th century, coming to work and trade in the British military base
Military base
A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. In general, a military base provides accommodations for one or more units, but it may also be used as a...
.
During the Second World War, the whole civilian population of The Rock was evacuated, in the interests of the British military, which decreed that "the fortress comes first". They were moved to the UK, particularly to Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
and Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Ballymena
Ballymena
Ballymena is a large town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland and the seat of Ballymena Borough Council. Ballymena had a population of 28,717 people in the 2001 Census....
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, as well as Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
and Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. This served to strengthen a Gibraltarian, as opposed to simply British, identity, and after the war, there was a successful campaign for repatriation.
British Gibraltarians
Gibraltarians have historically been proud of their British heritage, and unlike the inhabitants of other territories, sought to strengthen, rather than loosen their ties with the UK and the British Crown, seeing themselves as "more British than the British". This sense of being British was particularly strong when the frontier with Spain was closed in 1969, and all communications links were severed. Until 16 December 2006, the only flights from Gibraltar AirportGibraltar Airport
Gibraltar Airport or North Front Airport is the civilian airport that serves the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is owned by the Ministry of Defence for use by the Royal Air Force as RAF Gibraltar. Civilian operators use the airport; currently the only scheduled flights operate to the...
, were those to the UK. To some in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
itself, this sense of Britishness
Britishness
Britishness is the state or quality of being British, or of embodying British characteristics, and is used to refer to that which binds and distinguishes the British people and forms the basis of their unity and identity, or else to explain expressions of British culture—such as habits, behaviours...
is often looked upon with a mixture of incomprehension and ridicule. The fact that they are largely of Mediterranean
Mediterranean race
The Mediterranean race was one of the three sub-categories into which the Caucasian race and the people of Europe were divided by anthropologists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, following the publication of William Z. Ripley's book The Races of Europe...
appearance and speak an Andalusian Spanish
Andalusian Spanish
The Andalusian varieties of Spanish are spoken in Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla and Gibraltar. They include perhaps the most distinct of the southern variants of peninsular Spanish, differing in many respects from northern varieties, and also from Standard Spanish...
variant, known as Llanito
Llanito
Llanito or Yanito is an Andalusian Spanish based creole spoken in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It consists of an eclectic mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English, marked by a great deal of code switching and loanwords from many other Mediterranean languages.Gibraltarians also...
gives Gibraltarians a strong resemblance to Andalusian Spaniards
Andalusian people
The Andalusians are the people of the southern region in Spain approximated by what is now called Andalusia. They are generally not considered an ethnically distinct people because they lack two of the most important markers of distinctiveness: their own language and an awareness of a presumed...
, despite the Gibraltarian's distinct cultural heritage and identity.
Religion
Most Gibraltarians are Roman Catholic, with the Diocese of Gibraltar being directly responsible to the VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. The Rock also forms part of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
diocese covering mainland Europe
Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe
The Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe is geographically the largest diocese of the Church of England and arguably the largest diocese in the Anglican Communion, covering some one-sixth of the Earth's landmass, including Morocco, Europe , Turkey, and the territory of the former Soviet...
, with a "Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Gibraltar in Europe in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers not only the area of Gibraltar in British jurisdiction but also all of mainland Europe, Morocco and the territory of the former Soviet Union...
". There is also a Methodist Church and St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church, Gibraltar
St Andrew's Church is a congregation of the Church of Scotland in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar and is part of the Presbytery of Europe. The church was opened in 1854...
(part of the Church of Scotland
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
).
There is a small (600 members) but very influential Jewish minority, active in business and politics, and five synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s. Most Moroccans
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
are Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, and there is a large mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
at Europa Point
Europa Point
Europa Point, also called Great Europa Point, is the southernmost point of Gibraltar. At the end of Rock of Gibraltar, the area is flat and occupied by such features as a playing field and a few buildings...
, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque
The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, also known as the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque or the Mosque of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, is a mosque located at Europa Point in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, a peninsula connected to southern Spain...
, paid for by Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Most India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, with their own local temple.
Additionally there are two very active congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
sharing the same Kingdom Hall, one has meetings in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and the other in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
.
Relations with Spain
Historically, cultural ties with Spain have been strong; a variant of Andalusian SpanishAndalusian Spanish
The Andalusian varieties of Spanish are spoken in Andalusia, Ceuta, Melilla and Gibraltar. They include perhaps the most distinct of the southern variants of peninsular Spanish, differing in many respects from northern varieties, and also from Standard Spanish...
, "Llanito
Llanito
Llanito or Yanito is an Andalusian Spanish based creole spoken in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It consists of an eclectic mix of Andalusian Spanish and British English, marked by a great deal of code switching and loanwords from many other Mediterranean languages.Gibraltarians also...
", being the vernacular
Vernacular
A vernacular is the native language or native dialect of a specific population, as opposed to a language of wider communication that is not native to the population, such as a national language or lingua franca.- Etymology :The term is not a recent one...
language of the territory. Intermarriage between Gibraltarians and Spaniards resulted in many people having relatives on the other side of the frontier, known in Spanish as La Verja or 'the fence'. These people were badly affected by the closure of the frontier in 1969, which even saw telephone links severed, so that the only way that families could communicate was to shout across the border gates. Others took the more cumbersome and costly route of travelling first from Gibraltar to Tangiers by ferry and then taking another ferry to Algeciras
Algeciras
Algeciras is a port city in the south of Spain, and is the largest city on the Bay of Gibraltar . Port of Algeciras is one of the largest ports in Europe and in the world in three categories: container,...
, before taking a final coach to La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción is a town in Spain, in the province of Cádiz in Andalucia. It lies on the eastern isthmus of the Bay of Gibraltar on the border with the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, with which it has close economic and social links...
. A journey that would take half a day, when the end destination would have been within walking distance under normal circumstances.
Since the frontier with Spain was reopened, ties with the hinterland, known as the "Campo de Gibraltar
Campo de Gibraltar
The comarca of the Campo de Gibraltar is a comarca in the province of Cádiz, Spain, in the southwestern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, the southernmost part of continental Western Europe...
", have increased, with many buying property in places like La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción
La Línea de la Concepción is a town in Spain, in the province of Cádiz in Andalucia. It lies on the eastern isthmus of the Bay of Gibraltar on the border with the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, with which it has close economic and social links...
, Sotogrande
Sotogrande
Sotogrande is the largest resort and privately owned residential development in Andalusia. A large part of the resort is administered by NH Hotels and it is considered part of the NH World...
and further afield like the Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is a region in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coastline of the Málaga province. The Costa del Sol is situated between two lesser known costas: Costa de la Luz and Costa Tropical...
, where prices are considerably lower. On the weekends, many flock across the frontier, with livelier nightclubs and bars than in Gibraltar. Younger Gibraltarians have considerable exposure to popular culture from Spain, and even vice versa, the pop group "Taxi
Taxi (band)
----Taxi are a Romanian pop-rock band. Their sound is an eclectic mix of rock and contemporary pop, occasionally introducing other influences such as hot Nashville-style guitar licks.The band was founded March 13, 1999 in Bucharest...
" having found success on the Spanish charts, virtually all of its songs being in Spanish. In addition, Gibraltarians of all ages are often avid supporters of Spanish football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
teams like FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
and Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
as well as teams like Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
However, the Gibraltar Football Association
Gibraltar Football Association
The Gibraltar Football Association was formed as the Gibraltar Civilian Football Association in 1895, changing to its current name in later years...
's application for membership of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, which would enable it to participate in the European Football Championship
UEFA European Football Championship
The UEFA European Football Championship is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by UEFA . Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the UEFA European Nations Cup, changing to the current...
s and the Football World Cup, has met with strong opposition from the Royal Spanish Football Federation. This is seen as yet another attempt to deny the existence of Gibraltar internationally.
While Gibraltarians have multiple identities, seeing themselves to varying degrees as Gibraltarian, British and European, they do not generally identify with the Spanish state. While some in Britain's Foreign Office would like to see this closening of ties result in an 'osmosis' between The Rock and the "Campo de Gibraltar", there is no prospect of Gibraltarians accepting absorption into Spain. A trip across the frontier, even to La Línea, is still described as "going to Spain".
Relations with Britain
British influence remains strong. Spanish may be widely spoken, but it is mainly used as a vernacular language, English being the only official language used in government, commerce, education and the media. Gibraltarians going on to higher education attend universityUniversity
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the UK and not in Spain. Many university graduates remain in the UK to pursue careers there. After the Second World War, most evacuees were repatriated, but some stayed on, while many also moved to the UK, thereby increasing family ties with the "mother country". While television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
from Spain is easily received and widely watched, the availability of British television via satellite
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
, particularly Sky
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, means that Gibraltarians are as familiar with British news and popular culture as people in the UK itself. Many Gibraltarians sometimes refer to British people
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
with the pejorative term "guiri
Guiri
Guiri is a colloquial Spanish name used in Spain applied to foreigners.- Source :According to the Real Academia Dictionary, this word traces back to XIX Century Carlist Wars, when Basque-speaking Carlist forces took the "cristino" nickname of their enemies and changed into "guristino".In the late...
s", which is Spanish slang for foreigner or Northern European.
Surnames
Many Gibraltarians have names that reflect their mixed British and Mediterranean heritage usually with British first names like KeithKeith (given name)
Keith is a masculine given name. It comes from a Scottish surname, which is derived from a place name meaning "wood, forest". Keith was the 298th most common name given to newborn boys in the United States in 2007...
, Kyle
Kyle (given name)
Kyle is a given name that was originally a family name but like other family names became a popular given name in English speaking countries...
, Nigel
Nigel
Nigel is an English masculine given name. The name is derived from the Latin Nigellus. This Latin word would seem to derive from the Latin niger, meaning "black"; however this is thought to be an example of an incorrect etymology created by French speaking clerics, who knew Latin as well, to...
, James
James (name)
The name James is derived from the same Hebrew name as Jacob, meaning "Supplanter" ....
, John
John (given name)
John is a masculine given name in the English language. The name is derived from the Latin Ioannes, Iohannes, which is in turn a form of the Greek , Iōánnēs. This Greek name is a form of the Hebrew name , , which means "God is generous"...
, Marie, Natalie
Natalie (given name)
Natalie is a female given name, found in many languages but especially common in French and Russian speaking countries. Popular variants are Nathalie and Natalia...
, Samantha
Samantha
Samantha is a feminine given name. It was first recorded in the 18th century in New England, but its origin is unknown.Speculation has suggested an origin from the masculine given name Samuel and anthos, the Greek word for "flower"...
, etc with surnames originating from all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Surnames in Gibraltar include those originating from:
Italy GenoaGenoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
E.g. Alecio, Bossano, Bottaro, Canessa, Cavilla, Culatto, Danino, Felice
Felice
Felice is a 1971 short film that explores the difficult but passionate relationship between a younger man and older woman through a cascading crescendo of non-linear, interwoven scenes and sequences. Running time: seven minutes. Winner of the 1972 Oklahoma State University Film Festival...
, Ferrary, Ferro, Galliano, Imossi, Isola, Lavarello, Licudi, Massetti, Montegriffo, Olivero, Parody, Passano, Pitaluga, Pizzarello, Povedano, Ramo
Ramo
A ramo was a warrior-leader among certain tribes on Malaita in the Solomon Islands. A ramo was recognized when he had killed an adversary in personal combat, and established an intimidating reputation...
, Risso
Risso
Risso may refer to:* Antoine Risso , French naturalist: Risso's Dolphin is named after him* Eduardo Risso , Argentine comic book artist* Eduardo Risso , Uruguayan rower*Risso, Uruguay...
IndiaE.g. Aswani, Budhrani, Karnani, Kumar
Kumar
Kumār OR Kunwar is a title, a given name or a family name native to India.In many Indian languages, Kumar literally means prince or a young/unmarried male....
, Mahtani
MaltaE.g. Attard
Attard
Ħ'Attard is a village located at the centre-most point of the island of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of "the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. Ħ'Attard's traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo due to its many flower gardens and citrus...
, Azzopardi
Azzopardi
Azzopardi is a Maltese surname presumed to be derived from the word Safardi. "Sephardi" refers to the Sephardic Jews, who are a subgroup of Jews that originated in modern-day Spain and Portugal and parts of North Africa. The Azzopardi families of Malta probably have their origin in Spain...
, Borg
Borg (surname)
Borg is a common surname in Scandinavia as well as in Malta. Borg may refer to:*Åke Borg, Swedish swimmer, twin brother of Arne*Alex Borg, Maltese snooker player*Anders Borg, Swedish politician*Andy Borg, Austrian singer...
, Buhagiar, Buttigieg, Calleja, Canepa, Camilleri
Camilleri
Camilleri is a common Maltese surname of Maltese origin, and may refer to the following people.*Andrea Camilleri, an Italian author*Charles Camilleri*Chris Camilleri , Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer*Joe Camilleri*Louis C. Camilleri...
, Caruana
Caruana
Caruana may refer to:*Alfonso Caruana , a member of the Sicilian Mafia*Antonio Annetto Caruana , a Maltese archaeologist and author*Charles Caruana CBE , Roman Catholic Bishop of Gibraltar...
, Debbatista Farrugia
Farrugia
Farrugia is a family name with a theoretical etymology based in both Latin fellus and Semitic faruj, first found in Malta, Calabria and Sicily. In the Maltese language the word farruġ refers to a cockerel . It has been exported by immigration to places including the United States, United Kingdom ,...
, Mifsud
Mifsud
Mifsud is a Maltese surname. It may refer to:*Adrian Mifsud, Maltese footballer*Anthony J. Mifsud, Maltese-Canadian actor, singer and songwriter*Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Maltese politician, son of Ugo Mifsud Bonnici...
, Robba, Sant
Sant
Sant is an Indian term derived from a Sanskrit verb that means both "to be good" and "to be real". From the fifteenth century the term has often referred to those who sing the name of God and worship Him, particularly the bhakti poets of Marathi...
, Spiteri
Spiteri
Spiteri is a common Maltese surname. It may refer to:-*Donat Spiteri, Maltese religious leader and author*Mary Spiteri, Maltese cabaret artiste*Oliver Spiteri, Maltese soccer manager and former player*Renzo Spiteri, Maltese musician...
, Teuma, Xerri, Zammit
Zammit
Zammit is a common Maltese surname. It may refer to:*Aidan Zammit, Maltese musician*Alfredo Cachia Zammit, Maltese politician*Frederick Zammit, Maltese TV writer*Ivan Zammit, Maltese footballer*Ninu Zammit, Maltese politician...
PortugalE.g. Britto, Coelho
Coelho
-People:* Bento Coelho da Silveira , Portuguese painter* Carlos Coelho, Portuguese politician* Dyego Rocha Coelho, Brazilian football player* Eduardo Teixeira Coelho, maker of comic books...
, Correia
Correia
Correia is a common Portuguese and Galician language surname, meaning "leather strap". It may appear in the archaic form Corrêa.It may refer to:-Portuguese:*Adriano Correia de Oliveira, musician*António Correia, conquistador...
, Gonçalves, Mascarenhas
Mascarenhas (surname)
Mascarenhas is a Portuguese language surname.It may refer to:*Dimitri Mascarenhas, English cricketer.*Francisco de Mascarenhas, 13th vice-regent of Portuguese controlled India, 1581 - 1584.*Cecilia Mascarenhas, Retired goan cultural historian...
, Netto
Neto
Suffix used in Portuguese speaking countries to distinguish a grandson from his grandfather when they have the same given name.The following people bear the suffix Neto:* António Agostinho Neto, a former president of Angola...
, Oliveira
Oliveira (surname)
Oliveira is the Portuguese name for the olive tree. It is a common surname of toponymic origin in regions with strong Portuguese influence, mainly Portugal itself, Brazil, and Galicia.-General:*A. H...
, Tavares
Israel Sephardic JewishSephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
E.g. Abudarham, Attias, Belilo, Benady
Benady
- People with Benady surname :*Tito Benady, Gibraltarian historian*Sam Benady, Gibraltarian writer...
, Benamor, Cohen
Cohen (surname)
Cohen is a Jewish surname of biblical origins . It is a very common Jewish surname, comparable to 'Smith' in an English-language context....
, Federico
Federico
-People with the given name Federico:In business:* Federico Moctezuma, founder of Damazco Builders and Land Development CorpIn the arts:* Federico Ágreda, Venezuelan composer and DJ....
, Gabay, Hassan
Hassan (surname)
Hassan Hassan Hassan (also spelled Hasan, Hassen, Hasson, Hassin, Hassine, Hacen, Hasen, Hasin, Hass, Hassa, Hasa, Haas, Cassin, Chassan, Chasan, Chasson, Chason, Khassan, Khasan, Cassan, Casan, Hasso, Hassanein, Hasnen, Hassani, Hasani,...
, Levy
Levi
Levi/Levy was, according to the Book of Genesis, the third son of Jacob and Leah, and the founder of the Israelite Tribe of Levi ; however Peake's commentary suggests this as postdiction, an eponymous metaphor providing an aetiology of the connectedness of the tribe to others in the Israelite...
, Serfaty, Serruya, Wahnon
SpainE.g. Asquez, Borrell
Borrell
Borrell is a common surname in modern Catalan language, and was also a given name in the past. It can refer to:* Andrea Borrell , Cuban basketball player* Borrell of Ausona , first count of Cerdanya...
, Garcia
García (surname)
García is a surname common throughout the Americas, the Philippines and Spain. There are several theories about its origin and history, but it is probably of Basque origin...
, Gomez, Gonzalez
Gonzalez (surname)
González is a family name that originated in Spain. In Spain, it is the second most common surname with 2.08% of the population bearing the surname.. It's also very popular in Latin America, being the most common one in countries like Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Paraguay, and thus making it...
, Lopez
López
López is a common surname in the Spanish language . It was originally a patronymic, meaning Son of Lope, Lope itself being a Spanish given name deriving from Latin lupus, meaning wolf...
, Linares, Mañasco, Martinez
Martínez (surname)
Martínez, often spelled without the acute accent on the "i", is a common surname in the Spanish language. Martínez is the most common surname in Navarra, La Rioja, Cuenca and Murcia. There are also variations such as San Martin and Martín .It has originated as a patronymic surname, meaning "son of...
, Ocaña, Ramirez
Ramirez (surname)
Ramírez is a patronymic Spanish surname meaning "son of Ramiro". Although it should be properly written with an acute accent on the i, it is commonly written without it...
, Reyes, Rodriguez, Sanchez
Sánchez (surname)
Sánchez or Sanchez is a frequently common Spanish surname. As a patronymic, it means "son of Sancho". The name "Sancho" itself comes from the Basque Santxo.-Popularity:Sanchez is the fifth most common surname in Spain.-People:...
, Santos, Vallejo
United KingdomE.g. Corby, Crisp
Crisp (surname)
Crisp, as a surname, may refer to:* Bob Crisp , South African cricketer.* Charles Frederick Crisp , U.S. politician.* Covelli Loyce "Coco" Crisp , baseball center fielder.* Donald Crisp , English film actor...
, Feetham
Feetham
Feetham is a hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England opposite Low Row....
, Finlayson
Finlayson (surname)
Finlayson is a surname of Scottish origin. It is a patronymic form of the name Finlay.People surnamed Finlayson include:* Alex Finlayson , American playwright...
, Francis
Francis
Francis is a French and English first name and a surname of Latin origin.Francis is a name that has many derivatives in most European languages. The female version of the name in English is Frances, and Francine...
, Hook
Hook (surname)
Hook is a surname, and may refer* Alfred Henry Hook,, English recipient of the Victoria Cross* Frank Eugene Hook, U.S. state of Michigan politician* Geoff "Jeff" Hook, , Australian cartoonist...
, Holmes, Jones
Jones (surname)
Jones is a common Celtic Welsh surname based on the English version of the parent's name ending in -S. In 1881 people with this surname were largely confined to Wales. By 1998 many Welsh people had migrated to cities in England particularly those adjacent to Wales. The earliest record of the name...
, Randall
Randall (surname)
-Etymology:Randall or Randolph are both derived from the Old English Randwulf or Old Norse Randólfr , from rand "the rim of a shield" and wulf "wolf", a kenning meaning "hunter or enemy of the shield", i.e...
, Richardson
Richardson (surname)
Richardson is an Anglo Saxon patronymic surname.The prefix Richard, is a given name derived from the Old English ric and heard . The suffix -son denotes "son/descendant of". The name Richard and Richardson is found in records as early as 1381 in Yorkshire, England. It is the 60th-most common...
, Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
Gibraltarian British
While many outsiders use the terms 'Gibraltarians', 'people of Gibraltar' and 'residents of Gibraltar' interchangeably, strictly speaking, 'Gibraltarian' should be used only to describe those British citizens registered as having Gibraltarian statusGibraltarian status
Gibraltarian status is a legal status in Gibraltar law defined by the Gibraltarian Status Act, 1962. Persons with Gibraltarian status are registered on the Register of Gibraltarians.-History:...
.
The UK originally regarded Gibraltarians as British Overseas Territories citizen
British Overseas Territories citizen
The status of British Overseas Territories citizen relates to persons holding British nationality by virtue of a connection with a British Overseas Territory.-British Nationality Act 1981:...
s. In 1981 Gibraltarians successfully campaigned against this classification under the British Nationality Act
British Nationality Act 1981
The British Nationality Act 1981 was an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament concerning British nationality. It has been the basis of British nationality law since 1 January 1983.-History:...
, which would have deprived them of the right of abode in the UK, along with other colonial subjects. This was partly due to Gibraltar's status as part of the then European Community (now European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
). As a result the Gibraltarians acquired the right to register as full British citizens.
British passports issued in Gibraltar differ from those issued in the UK, in that they feature on the cover the word "Gibraltar" underneath "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Whereas UK-issued passports state that "Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty the Queen to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance", Gibraltar-issued passports state that that it is the Governor of Gibraltar
Governor of Gibraltar
The Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The Governor is appointed by the British Monarch on the advice of the British Government...
who requests and requires this.
In 2004 an electoral register taken for the purposes of elections for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
showed that there were only 95 persons with the status of BOTC. Spain opposed the enfranchisement of the Gibraltarians in EU elections on the basis of the misconception that Gibraltarians were not full British citizens, but Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
citizens, despite Commonwealth citizen
Commonwealth citizen
A Commonwealth citizen, which replaces the former category of British subject, is generally a person who is a national of any country within the Commonwealth of Nations....
s living in the UK having always been able to vote in European elections.
Other British
There is a sizeable British expatriate minority, classified as 'Other British' and sometimes referred to by the native Gibraltarians rather pejoratively as guiriGuiri
Guiri is a colloquial Spanish name used in Spain applied to foreigners.- Source :According to the Real Academia Dictionary, this word traces back to XIX Century Carlist Wars, when Basque-speaking Carlist forces took the "cristino" nickname of their enemies and changed into "guristino".In the late...
s. Historically, many came with the British military or as civil servants, with many marrying locals, and registering as Gibraltarians themselves, although any British citizen resident on The Rock for at least six months may vote. With the decline of the military presence, and the introduction of self-government, most from the UK instead come to work in the offshore finance sector. Many affluent people from the UK and elsewhere are classed as "High Net Worth Individuals", who receive tax concessions in return for buying property and residing locally for at least part of the year. More recently, many futures traders have come to the Rock, since the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE) switched to electronic trading in 1999, thereby reducing the need to be in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Some in Gibraltar have criticised the current government's policy, on the grounds that too much is being done to develop luxury properties for 'High Net Worth Individuals', and not enough to develop property for local people, a common complaint in many other small offshore jurisdictions. However, this should not be construed as hostility to British people or expatriates.
Moroccans
Following the closure of the frontier, Gibraltar could no longer rely on Spanish workers commuting from the Campo, resulting in a labour shortage. Gibraltar instead looked to MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, with many workers coming over by ferry and staying in government hostels. Although they paid income tax and social insurance, they were denied the right to either permanent residence or citizenship, only having renewable work permits. This policy has prompted criticism from human rights groups in the UK, who describe living and working conditions for Moroccans in Gibraltar as degrading.
Indians
Most IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
ns in Gibraltar are in business, many of the shops on the Rock's Main Street being Indian-owned. initially not able to obtain citizenship, an increasing number have done so.
Sport culture
The Ministry for Sport, headed by the Hon Edwin Reyes, Minister for Sport and Culture, is responsible for sports policy matters and the provision of support to educational establishments and the governing bodies of sport in Gibraltar.Under the chairmanship of the Minister, a Gibraltar Sports Advisory Council has been set up to advise the Government of Gibraltar on all matters relating to sport.
The Government recognizes the benefits derived from participation in sports and recreational activities. Importance is given to the availability of suitable facilities for the practice of sport. There are a large number of Sports facilities in Gibraltar, of varying standards. These provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to enjoy sport as a recreation and for the serious sports enthusiasts to improve standards and participate in local and International events.
There are, at the moment, eighteen Gibraltar Sports Associations that have gained official recognition from their respective International Governing Bodies. Others, including the Gibraltar National Olympic Committee, have submitted applications for recognition which are being considered.
In late 1999 a Sports Development Unit was set up to assist Gibraltar governing bodies of sport and Educational establishments to improve standards.
Gibraltar's resident population is active in sport and standards are, by and large, rather high, in relation to Gibraltar's population. Participation in officially recognised or other sports events, abroad or in Gibraltar, is welcomed by Gibraltar sports persons.
Gibraltar's sports facilities are also being used by foreign sports persons for 'warm-weather' training. This practice is being encouraged and more and better facilities are projected in order to improve the product for locals and visitors alike.
The Gibraltar Football Association
The GFA was formed as the Gibraltar Civilian Football Association in 1895, changing to its current name in later years. It is one of the oldest football associations in the world.The GFA was formed as an increasing number of football clubs were coming into existence in Gibraltar, and the association was designed to bring some form of organisation to the game there. Between the association's formation and 1907 the only football competition in Gibraltar was the Merchant's Cup. However, in 1907 the GFA established a league to complement the existing cup competition.
By 1901, the GFA had established a representative "national" team, competing against military teams. This representative team continued to play down the years, their highlight probably being a draw against Real Madrid in 1949.
The GFA affiliated with The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
in 1909, but is currently trying to become a full member of UEFA so that its national team can compete in the European Football Championship and the Football World Cup.
Gibraltar Football League
The Gibraltar Football League was established by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA) in 1905. It originally contained eight member clubs, but it has grown over the years.In 1909 the league grew to two divisions, and it currently has three divisions which clubs can be promoted and relegated between at the end of each season.
The Gibraltar cricket team
Cricket has been played in Gibraltar by British servicemen since the late 18th century. A cricket ground is known to have existed north of the Rock of Gibraltar in 1800. Civilians were playing the game as well as servicemen by 1822.The Gibraltar Cricket Club was formed in 1883, and formed the backbone of civilian cricket until well into the 20th Century.
In 1890, a ship carrying the Australian cricket team on the way to a tour of England, docked in Gibraltar Harbour after a collision with two other ships. The Australians played a game against a Gibraltar Garrison team. The local side were dismissed for just 25, and the Australians won the game, scoring 150/8.
Gibraltar first participated in the ICC Trophy in 1982, and have played every tournament since, with the exception of the 2005 tournament, for which they failed to qualify. They have also competed in the European Championship on every occasion since it began in 1996.
The Gibraltar Rugby Union
Campo Gibraltar Rugby Union Football ClubCampo Gibraltar Rugby Union Football Club
The Gibraltar Barbarians Rugby Union Football Club is a Rugby union club from Gibraltar and the surrounding Campo in Spain, who play in the Andalucian League. They play their home games in the town of Guadiaro near Sotogrande in the Cadiz province of Spain. They currently play in the Primera...
plays all its games in nearby Spain.
See also
- Sport in GibraltarSport in GibraltarSport plays a prominent role in Gibraltarian life. The range of sports practiced in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar is wide and varied in comparison to its size of less than 7km2. The Government of Gibraltar is committed to promote sport within The Rock and supports many local sports...