Pilota
Encyclopedia
Basque pelota is the name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using one's hand, a racket
, a wooden bat or a basket, against a wall (frontón in Spanish, pilotaleku or pilota plaza in Basque, frontó in Catalan, fronton in French) or, more traditionally, with two teams face to face separated by a line on the ground or a net. Their roots can be traced to the Greek and other ancient cultures, but in Europe they all derive from tennis (see Jeu de Paume
).
The Basque term pilota comes from the Latin "pilum" (javelin) via Provençal "pilota" (ball).
Today, Basque pelota is played in several countries. In Europe, this sport is concentrated in Spain and France, especially in the Basque Country
and its neighbouring areas. The sport is also played in Latin American countries such as Argentina
, Chile, Cuba
, Mexico, Perú
and Uruguay
. Operated as a gaming enterprise called Jai Alai
, it is seen in parts of the U.S. such as Florida, Connecticut
, Nevada
, and Rhode Island
.
In Valencia, Valencian pilota
is considered the national sport; it is also played in Belgium, North of Italy, Mexico, and Argentina.
Since its creation, the International Federation of Basque Pelota
has standardised the different varieties into four modalities and fourteen disciplines, with fixed ball weights, rules and court sizes. The four modalities (30 m wall, 36 m wall, 56 m wall and trinquete) admit fourteen disciplines, depending the use of bare hand, leather ball, rubber ball, paleta (pelota paleta), racket (frontennis) and xare. Two of the fourteen disciplines are played by both men and women (frontenis and rubber pelota in trinquete); the other twelve are played only by men.
This allows championship play at the international level, and allows the participation of players and teams from around the world using the same rules.
There is, however, criticism about this, since purists might argue that some of the original traits of each particular modality could be lost.
The origin of this sport is tied to the decline of the ancient jeu de paume (jeu de paume au gant), ca. 1700. While the game evolved to the modern jeu de paume (with racquet, called real tennis in England) and eventually to tennis, rural alpine and pyreneean communities kept the tradition.
In the basque country the "pasaka" and "laxoa", local versions of the paume evolved to the peculiar style of the pilota: instead of playing face to face, with a net in the midfield, the basques began to fling the ball against a wall.
According the basque pilota historian Chipitey Etcheto, the first recorded matchs took place in Napoleonic times; it is believed that the game was close to currently rare specialty of "rebot".
The mid-19th century saw the explosion of the "pelota craze". The player "Gantxiki" is considered the original "father" of the chistera, the basket-shaped racquet which can propel the ball at incredible speeds, introduced around 1850.
The top champions of the end of the 19th century, like "Chiquito de Cambo" were immensely popular and the best paid sportsmen of their time. The first official competitions were organized in the 1920s, and led to the world championship in the 1950s.
, and a demonstration sport
in 1924
(men), 1968
(men) and 1992
(men and women). See also Basque pelota at the 1900 Summer Olympics
.
Although this sport is mostly played in Spain
and France, there are also federations of Basque ball in Argentina
, Bolivia, Brazil
, Canada, Costa Rica
, Cuba, Chile
, Dominican Republic, Ecuador
, El Salvador, Philippines
, Guatemala, Italy
, Mexico, Paraguay
, Peru, Puerto Rico
, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela, Netherlands
, Sweden, India
and Greece
. Due to the origin of the game, there are many good players who are Basques, either natives or from the Basque diaspora
.
Basque pelota is usually played in a two walled court (Basque
: frontoi or leku, French: fronton, Spanish: frontón). As seen in the picture, there are also courts with one wall, a modality prevailing on the French side of the Basque Country
, some spots of Navarre
or at the highly exceptional court of Zubieta in province Gipuzkoa. Yet they are not recognized by the International Federation of Basque Pelota
for international tournaments, and usually reserved to joko-garbia and open-air grand chistera games.
The ball may either be played so it rebounds directly off the front wall onto the playing floor or onto the long side wall first. The opposing team may either play the ball immediately after rebounding from the front wall or side wall without rebounding from the playing floor or after having rebounded from the playing floor once.
A team scores by:
A team may also score by the opposing team:
It was originally played in the 13th century in the Basque reigon of Spain, and has been played for a long time in Mexico, South America, Cuba, Italy and many US states, including Florida. The sport is similar to squash, players hit the ball against the end wall of a three-sided court, trying to get the ball out of the opponent's reach.
The ball is not solid neither hollow. It is made from two halves which are eventually glued together. Previous to that process, the core is filled with a small amount of a special gas which allowed the ball to have great bouncing and speed.
It can be played by both men and women. This variety was invented in Argentina
and is widely played there, where their male pelotaris used to dominate international competitions.
. It is called zesta punta in Basque and cesta-punta in Spanish (literally: 'edged basket'). It uses a special glove that extends into a long pointed curved basket (hence the name), circa 60 cm long in straight line and 110 cm by curved line. The basket (xistera in Basque and chistéra in French) was introduced by Gantchiqui Dithurbide from Saint-Pée
, France in 1860, and its long version by Melchior Curuchage, from Buenos Aires in 1888. The players use it to catch the rubber ball and propel it back against the main court. The Basque Government claims it as "the fastest game on Earth", the record being 302 km/h (José Ramón Areitio at the Newport Jai Alai, Rhode Island, USA on 3 August 1979).
The Basque name joko garbi means "clean game", in opposition to the abuse of atxiki, typical of the late 19th century style of playing, dubbed joko zikin ("dirty game").
This game is for men only.
This game, like pasaka, laxoa and rebot, is seldom performed.
and ASPE
that hold the contract of the tournament players.
In the United States pelota is mainly a professional sport, strongly tied to betting
and the pari-mutuel system.
In professional environment is common to play special plays called "quinielas" well adapted to the
betting needs.
In 1994, the production company Asegarce
started painting the courts green so that the ball would be more visible on TV.
Professional games are open to betting
on the results, as usual in most traditional Basque competitions. In the USA and Macau it is mainly this aspect of the competition that has given it some popularity. Besides the federations, there are professional competitions such as the League of Companies of Basque Pilota. The International Jai-Alai Players Association is a union defending the players of Jai Alai
.
Note 1: Medal count is sorted by total gold medals, then total silver medals, then total bronze medals, then alphabetically.
Note 2: From 1952 to 1970 there was no dispute for the bronze medal.
Note 3: The table includes all modalities, including the Plaza Libre event from the 1952 and from the 1958 Basque Pelota World Championships.
Other modalities
Racquet
A racquet or racket is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly. It is used for striking a ball in such games as squash, tennis, racquetball, and badminton...
, a wooden bat or a basket, against a wall (frontón in Spanish, pilotaleku or pilota plaza in Basque, frontó in Catalan, fronton in French) or, more traditionally, with two teams face to face separated by a line on the ground or a net. Their roots can be traced to the Greek and other ancient cultures, but in Europe they all derive from tennis (see Jeu de Paume
Jeu de paume
Jeu de paume is a ball-and-court game that originated in France. It was an indoor precursor of tennis played without racquets, though these were eventually introduced. It is a former Olympic sport, and has the oldest ongoing annual world championship in sport, first established over 250 years ago...
).
The Basque term pilota comes from the Latin "pilum" (javelin) via Provençal "pilota" (ball).
Today, Basque pelota is played in several countries. In Europe, this sport is concentrated in Spain and France, especially in the Basque Country
Basque Country (historical territory)
The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast....
and its neighbouring areas. The sport is also played in Latin American countries such as Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Mexico, Perú
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
and Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. Operated as a gaming enterprise called Jai Alai
Jai alai
Jai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
, it is seen in parts of the U.S. such as Florida, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
In Valencia, Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota
Valencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
is considered the national sport; it is also played in Belgium, North of Italy, Mexico, and Argentina.
Since its creation, the International Federation of Basque Pelota
International Federation of Basque Pelota
The International Federation of Basque Pelota is the world-wide governing body for Basque pelota. It sets the regulations for international competition and organizes the competitions.-History:...
has standardised the different varieties into four modalities and fourteen disciplines, with fixed ball weights, rules and court sizes. The four modalities (30 m wall, 36 m wall, 56 m wall and trinquete) admit fourteen disciplines, depending the use of bare hand, leather ball, rubber ball, paleta (pelota paleta), racket (frontennis) and xare. Two of the fourteen disciplines are played by both men and women (frontenis and rubber pelota in trinquete); the other twelve are played only by men.
This allows championship play at the international level, and allows the participation of players and teams from around the world using the same rules.
There is, however, criticism about this, since purists might argue that some of the original traits of each particular modality could be lost.
History
In the basque country the "pasaka" and "laxoa", local versions of the paume evolved to the peculiar style of the pilota: instead of playing face to face, with a net in the midfield, the basques began to fling the ball against a wall.
According the basque pilota historian Chipitey Etcheto, the first recorded matchs took place in Napoleonic times; it is believed that the game was close to currently rare specialty of "rebot".
The mid-19th century saw the explosion of the "pelota craze". The player "Gantxiki" is considered the original "father" of the chistera, the basket-shaped racquet which can propel the ball at incredible speeds, introduced around 1850.
The top champions of the end of the 19th century, like "Chiquito de Cambo" were immensely popular and the best paid sportsmen of their time. The first official competitions were organized in the 1920s, and led to the world championship in the 1950s.
International projection
Basque pelota was an official Olympic sport once, in the 1900 Paris Games1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
, and a demonstration sport
Demonstration sport
A demonstration sport is a sport which is played to promote itself, most commonly during the Olympic Games, but also at other sporting events.Demonstration sports were officially introduced in 1912 Summer Olympics, when Sweden decided to include glima, traditional Icelandic wrestling, in the...
in 1924
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
(men), 1968
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
(men) and 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
(men and women). See also Basque pelota at the 1900 Summer Olympics
Basque pelota at the 1900 Summer Olympics
At the 1900 Summer Olympics, a Basque pelota tournament was contested. Only two teams competed, so only one match was played. The score is unknown. The competition was held on 14 June....
.
Although this sport is mostly played in Spain
Spanish Federation of Basque Pelota
The Spanish Federation of Basque pelota or Federación Española de Pelota Vasca is the main governing body of Basque pelota in Spain and one of the most important in the world along with the International Federation of Basque Pelota.-History:...
and France, there are also federations of Basque ball in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Canada, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Cuba, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Dominican Republic, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, El Salvador, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Guatemala, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Mexico, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, Peru, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Uruguay, United States, Venezuela, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, Sweden, 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...
and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Due to the origin of the game, there are many good players who are Basques, either natives or from the Basque diaspora
Basque diaspora
The Basque diaspora is the name given to describe people of Basque origin living outside their traditional homeland on the borders between Spain and France...
.
Playing area
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
: frontoi or leku, French: fronton, Spanish: frontón). As seen in the picture, there are also courts with one wall, a modality prevailing on the French side of the Basque Country
Northern Basque Country
The French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country situated within the western part of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques constitutes the north-eastern part of the Basque Country....
, some spots of Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
or at the highly exceptional court of Zubieta in province Gipuzkoa. Yet they are not recognized by the International Federation of Basque Pelota
International Federation of Basque Pelota
The International Federation of Basque Pelota is the world-wide governing body for Basque pelota. It sets the regulations for international competition and organizes the competitions.-History:...
for international tournaments, and usually reserved to joko-garbia and open-air grand chistera games.
Rules (hand pilota)
The basic principle in hand-pelota is that there are two teams of two players each. The team to serve bounces the ball, then propels it towards the playing area of the narrow, front wall where it has to rebound between the low line demarcating the low off-area and the high line demarcating the high off-area.The ball may either be played so it rebounds directly off the front wall onto the playing floor or onto the long side wall first. The opposing team may either play the ball immediately after rebounding from the front wall or side wall without rebounding from the playing floor or after having rebounded from the playing floor once.
A team scores by:
- playing the ball in such a way that the opposing team is unable to play the ball before it has rebounded off the playing floor more than once.
- playing the ball in such a way that it rebounds off the front wall and rebounds off the floor and outside the playing area.
A team may also score by the opposing team:
- hitting the front wall but either below the low line or above the high line.
- hitting the ball in time but failing to reach the front wall.
Hand-pelota
(Basque: esku huska or esku huskako pilota, Spanish: pelota a mano): played barehanded (or with minimal protections) and with a traditional ball made of wool around a hard core and covered with leather. The standard ball should weigh 92–95 grams. It is played in the short court either individually (one vs. one) or by pairs (two vs. two). Traditionally and professionally it is reserved for men. Players can be distinguished by the swelling of their hitting hand.It was originally played in the 13th century in the Basque reigon of Spain, and has been played for a long time in Mexico, South America, Cuba, Italy and many US states, including Florida. The sport is similar to squash, players hit the ball against the end wall of a three-sided court, trying to get the ball out of the opponent's reach.
Paleta Goma (Rubber – Official International Specialty)
Also called "Argentine Paleta Goma" is played with a short and wide wooden bat, called paleta in both Spanish and Basque, and a gas-filled rubber ball.The ball is not solid neither hollow. It is made from two halves which are eventually glued together. Previous to that process, the core is filled with a small amount of a special gas which allowed the ball to have great bouncing and speed.
It can be played by both men and women. This variety was invented in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and is widely played there, where their male pelotaris used to dominate international competitions.
Pala (leather)
This variant played with a bat similar to the previous one but with a traditional leather ball. This game is mainly played by men.Paleta (short bat)
Is played with somewhat shorter but thicker and much less wide bat (pala ancha). Leather or rubber ball. In principle, reserved for men.Paleta (long bat)
Is played with a longer bat (pala larga), again thick and not much wide. Leather or rubber ball in the long court. In principle, this game is reserved for men.Jai alai (zesta punta)
This is the version known outside Europe as jai alaiJai alai
Jai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
. It is called zesta punta in Basque and cesta-punta in Spanish (literally: 'edged basket'). It uses a special glove that extends into a long pointed curved basket (hence the name), circa 60 cm long in straight line and 110 cm by curved line. The basket (xistera in Basque and chistéra in French) was introduced by Gantchiqui Dithurbide from Saint-Pée
Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle
Saint-Pée-sur-Nivelle is a village in the traditional Basque province of Labourd, now a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France....
, France in 1860, and its long version by Melchior Curuchage, from Buenos Aires in 1888. The players use it to catch the rubber ball and propel it back against the main court. The Basque Government claims it as "the fastest game on Earth", the record being 302 km/h (José Ramón Areitio at the Newport Jai Alai, Rhode Island, USA on 3 August 1979).
Joko-Garbi
A variant of the above. The basket-glove is shorter and less deep and it is allowed to retain the ball only momentarily.The Basque name joko garbi means "clean game", in opposition to the abuse of atxiki, typical of the late 19th century style of playing, dubbed joko zikin ("dirty game").
This game is for men only.
Remonte
Similar to joko-garbi, but the xistera is even more flat and don't allow the atchiki foul.This game, like pasaka, laxoa and rebot, is seldom performed.
Xare
Uses a simple soft racket (sare or xare meaning "net" in Basque). It is played only in the trinquet court. This speciality is known for the quick, precise and sharp movements of the pelotaris who are capable of reaching balls considered impossible for pelotaris of other specialities. It is also traditionally strong in South American countries.Frontenis
It is a modern Mexican fusion between tennis and Basque pelota. It uses tennis rackets in a short court, although the ball has a different surface to the tennis one. Men and women both play this game.Professional games
Professional games on Basque Country are mainly controlled by AsegarceAsegarce
Asegarce is an Basque event production and deportive license company, mainly devoted to Basque pelota. Through the Bainet company, it has also made audiovisual productions.-History:...
and ASPE
ASPE (Basque pelota)
ASPE Jugadores de Pelota S.L. is a deportive management company dedicated to promove Basque pelota.- History :The company was established in 1998, taking place ever since in the Cuatro y Medio, Doubles-pelota and hand-pelota categories....
that hold the contract of the tournament players.
In the United States pelota is mainly a professional sport, strongly tied to betting
and the pari-mutuel system.
In professional environment is common to play special plays called "quinielas" well adapted to the
betting needs.
Main Tournaments
- 1st Hand-pelota, singles category1st Hand-Pelota singles championshipThe 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship is the most important tournament competition of Hand-pelota category of Basque pelota. It was created in 1940, when the new Basque Pelota Spanish Federation, to have a champion of the category. In its beginnings, the championship was disputed every two...
- 1st Hand-pelota, doubles category1st Hand-Pelota doubles championshipThe 1st Hand-Pelota doubles Championship known as Campeonato de España de mano parejas is the second most important tournament of Hand-pelota category in Basque pelota, after the 1st Hand-Pelota singles championship, known as manomanista...
- Cuatro y Medio
- 2nd Hand-pelota, singles category2nd Hand-Pelota singles championshipThe 2nd Hand-Pelota singles championship is the second most important hand-pelota tournament.The championship is played since 1957 and has been the previous scenario for future 1st category pelotaris such as Retegi I, Retegi II, Arretxe, Beloki I and Olaizola II.The winner of the tourment earns the...
In 1994, the production company Asegarce
Asegarce
Asegarce is an Basque event production and deportive license company, mainly devoted to Basque pelota. Through the Bainet company, it has also made audiovisual productions.-History:...
started painting the courts green so that the ball would be more visible on TV.
Renowned players
Active
- Barriola
- Oinatz Bengoetxea
- Titín IIIAugusto Ibáñez SacristánAugusto Ibáñez Sacristán is a Basque pelota forward player. Champion of the Doubles Hand-pelota tournaments of 1994, 2000 y 2004.-Professional career:...
- BelokiRubén BelokiRubén Beloki Irribarren is a Basque pelota defensive player, often considered one of the best in the history of the sport. He was born in Burlada on August 8, 1974.His brother Alberto Beloki is also a professional pelotari known as Beloki II....
- Gonzalez
- André "Kassandra" Filipe
- Martínez de IrujoJuan Martínez de IrujoJuan Martínez de Irujo is a professional Basque pelota player for ASPE company.-Early life:Martínez de Irujo was born in 1981 in Ibero, Olza...
- Olaizola IIAimar OlaizolaAimar Olaizola Apezetxea, known as Olaizola II is a pelotari, brother of Olaizola I.- Professional career :During his career, Olaizola II won in 2005 an 2007 the Hand-pelota championship, additionally reaching the finals of 2003, 2006 and 2009....
- Xala
- Patxi Ruiz
Retired
- Artamendi
- Atano IIIMariano Juaristi MendizábalMariano Juaristi Mendizábal was an Azkoitian Basque pelota player known as Atano III. He is often considered one of the best pelotaris of all time, dominating the 1st hand-pelota category from 1926 to 1948 and winner of 4 championships .- Early life :Mariano Mendizábal was born on 1904 in Azkoitia,...
- Retegi IIJulián RetegiJulián Retegui Barbería, also known as Retegi II is an ex-player of Basque pelota. He is also called "El mago de Eratsun" , since he is considered one of the best Basque pelota players of all time...
- Azkarate
- Ogueta
- Patxi Eugi
- Mondragonés
- Retegi I
- Txikito de Iraeta
- Txikito de Eibar
- Gantxiki Dithurbide
- Chiquito de Cambo (Joseph Apestegi)
- Léon Dongaitz
- Otharé Borda
- Jean Aguer
- Jean Urruty
Professional games are open to betting
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...
on the results, as usual in most traditional Basque competitions. In the USA and Macau it is mainly this aspect of the competition that has given it some popularity. Besides the federations, there are professional competitions such as the League of Companies of Basque Pilota. The International Jai-Alai Players Association is a union defending the players of Jai Alai
Jai alai
Jai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
.
World Championships of Basque Pelota
Since 1952, the International Federation of Basque Pelota has organized the World Championships of Basque Pelota.Medal count
The current historical medal count since 1952 to 2010 is as follows:| Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 62 | 52 | 39 | 153 | |
| 2 | 60 | 67 | 32 | 159 | |
| 3 | 45 | 23 | 13 | 81 | |
| 4 | 40 | 37 | 25 | 102 | |
| 5 | 4 | 29 | 14 | 47 | |
| 6 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 18 | |
| 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 8 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Note 1: Medal count is sorted by total gold medals, then total silver medals, then total bronze medals, then alphabetically.
Note 2: From 1952 to 1970 there was no dispute for the bronze medal.
Note 3: The table includes all modalities, including the Plaza Libre event from the 1952 and from the 1958 Basque Pelota World Championships.
Dictionary (basic)
- Jo! (xo): game is on!
- Ba!: game is on!
- Sakea: the stroke that puts the ball in play
- Ona: good, valid
- Falta: foul
- Berriz: repeat
- Errebote: rebound on rear wall
- Atxiki (atʃiki): illegal retain
- Bote, punpa: bounce
- Ados: tie, draw
Trivia
- The game skills have also been used occasionally in combat.
- Films and television programmes that show pelota being played include:
- Philip LeacockPhilip LeacockPhilip David Charles Leacock was an English television and film director and producer. His brother was documentary filmmaker Richard Leacock.-Career:...
's 1956 film, The Spanish GardenerThe Spanish GardenerThe Spanish Gardener is a 1950 novel by A. J. Cronin which tells the story of a British diplomat, Harrington Brande, who is posted to Catalonia, Spain after his marriage collapses. The overbearing father becomes jealous of the evolving friendship between his young son, Nicholas, and the... - The Russell RouseRussell RouseRussell Rouse was an American screenwriter, director, and producer who is noted for the "offbeat creativity and originality"of his screenplays and for film noir movies and television episodes produced in the 1950s....
's Western film Thunder in the SunThunder in the SunThunder in the Sun is a 1959 western film made by Carrollton Inc and Seven Arts Productions and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Russell Rouse and produced by Clarence Greene from a screenplay by Russell Rouse and... - The Italian movie Pari e dispari (1978)
- "The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
] (Lenny, Homer's friend, is shown to live in a pelota playground) - The Basque Ball (Spanish documentary film about Basque politics that uses pelota as a metaphor)
- Jørgen LethJørgen LethJørgen Leth is a Danish poet and film director who is considered a leading figure in experimental documentary film making. Most notable are his epic documentary A Sunday in Hell and his surrealistic short film The Perfect Human...
's documentary "Pelota". - Miami ViceMiami ViceMiami Vice is an American television series produced by Michael Mann for NBC. The series starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as two Metro-Dade Police Department detectives working undercover in Miami. It ran for five seasons on NBC from 1984–1989...
(Jai-alai pelota)
- Philip Leacock
- The name Jai alaiJai alaiJai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
meaning (festival + merry) was coined in 1875 by Serafin BarojaSerafin BarojaSerafín Baroja was a Basque writer and mining engineer who wrote popular Basque poetry and lyrics. He was the father of a trio of illustrious children who left a deep mark on the art and literature of twentieth century Spain...
, father of CarmenCarmen BarojaCarmen Baroja Nessi , Spanish writer and ethnologist who wrote under the pseudonym Vera Alzate. She was the sister of the writers Ricardo and Pio Baroja, and mother of the anthropologist Julio Caro Baroja and film director Pio Caro Baroja.-Early life:Carmen was the youngest child of Serafin Baroja,...
, RicardoRicardo BarojaRicardo Baroja y Nessi was a Spanish Basque painter, writer and engraver. As an engraver, he is considered the successor of Goya. He was the brother of the novelist Pío Baroja and writer/ethnologist Carmen Baroja...
and Pío BarojaPío BarojaPío Baroja y Nessi was a Spanish Basque writer, one of the key novelists of the Generation of '98. He was a member of an illustrious family, his brother Ricardo was a painter, writer and engraver, and his nephew Julio Caro Baroja, son of his younger sister Carmen, was a well known...
. - A variation of Jai alaiJai alaiJai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
is featured in the film Tron in which players bounced the ball off of the ceiling to the opposite side of the playing field - Current French rugby union internationalFrance national rugby union teamThe France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
Imanol HarinordoquyImanol HarinordoquyImanol Harinordoquy is a French rugby union player who typically plays as a number 8 for Biarritz at club level in the Top 14 and for France internationally...
, a French Basque, grew up playing Basque pelota before he took up rugby at age 14.
See also
- FrontenisFrontenisFrontenis is a Basque pelota speciality that is played in a 30 meters pelota court using rackets...
- TrinqueteTrinqueteA trinquete is a special court for various indoor versions of pelota. It has some of the characterist features of a real tennis court, probably because many real tennis courts were converted to trinquetes in the 19th century. For some sports, the players face the same wall and share the court,...
- XareXareXare is racquet sport, a form of Basque pelota.-Ball:The ball is not exactly struck, nor is it quite caught—the effect is somewhere in between. The ball is very hard, and covered by parchment.-Court:...
- Jai alaiJai alaiJai alai is a sport involving a ball bounced off a walled space. It is a variety of Basque Pelota. The term, coined by Serafin Baroja in 1875, is also often loosely applied to the fronton where the sport is played...
- Basque rural sportsBasque rural sportsBasque rural sports, known as Herri Kirolak in Basque, is the term used for a number of sports competitions rooted in the traditional lifestyles of the Basque people...
Other modalities
- Gaelic handballGaelic handballGaelic handball is a sport similar to Basque pelota, racquetball, squash and American handball . It is one of the four Gaelic games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- Valencian pilotaValencian pilotaValencian pilota is a traditional handball sport played in the Valencian Community. Its origins are not known, but seems to be related to the French Jeu de paume....
- Valencian frontóValencian frontóFrontó is a modified Valencian pilota version of the original Basque Pelota game. The name frontó refers both to the game and the playing area...