The Spanish Influence on the Social and Sports Development of Torreon, Coahuila,Mexico in the Early 20th Century

Abstract

The development of sports in Mexico spans periods from the 18th century, the Porfiriato (1876-1910),
the Mexican Revolution (1911-1917), and the Post-Revolution era (1917-1940), to contemporary
Mexico (1950-1980). This chronology establishes a crucial historical framework for analyzing the
evolution of sports in the country across different political and social contexts. The literature recognizes
the interrelation between physical education and sports, as well as the foreign influence on
recreational, playful, and social activities carried out in social sports clubs, which are primary
antecedents of Mexican sports. The Spanish influence has been scarcely studied in regions outside Mexico City, where it is credited with establishing associations, translating football regulations,
founding social-sports clubs, and forming amateur football teams. Through the analysis of
bibliographic, hemerographic, and photographic sources, the Spanish colony in the city is identified as
the most influential foreign colony economically, socially, and culturally at the beginning of the 20th
century. Additionally, they are credited with introducing cotton cultivation, founding haciendas, or
ranches, and cotton companies. The findings reveal a significant influence through the institutions
established in the city, which became epicenters for promoting their charitable, recreational, and sport
activities. This article’s main objective is to highlight the relevance of the Spanish colony in Torreon and
its impact on social and sports development. It is structured around a literature review on the role of
Spaniards in central and northern Mexico, followed by an analysis of the cited sources and an exposition of the findings obtained.