| Ask any Latin American and they'll tell you one of the | | | | catch a professional polo match during your Argentina |
| things that define their continent and their own national | | | | vacation, at the Open Championships of the |
| identities is a burning passion for the competitive spirit | | | | Hurlingham and Tortugas Clubs, or the national |
| of sport. These days the continent's many historic | | | | Argentine Open Championship. |
| rivalries are expressed through a healthy sporting spirit, | | | | Riding the Waves: The ISA World Surfing Games |
| producing world famous spectacles that rank among | | | | 2009 is a special year for a much younger Latin |
| the top of any South America vacation experience. | | | | American sporting passion as the ISA World Surfing |
| Even non-avid sports fans can't help but get swept | | | | Games arrive at the blissful sands of Costa Rica's |
| away in the atmosphere and energy of a major Latin | | | | Jaco beach. Known as "the biggest surf show on the |
| American sporting event. | | | | planet" the games are right at home in the lively, |
| The Brazilian Grand Prix is just one of many major | | | | atmospheric and beautiful beach side town of Jaco. |
| Latin American sporting events. For followers of other | | | | The Olympics of Surfing sees over 200 surfers from |
| sports, here are five more that you should look out for | | | | nearly 30 countries congregate every year to do |
| while making your South America travel plans. | | | | battle on their boards, with the competition alternating |
| The Best of the Beautiful Game: Copa de | | | | between the world's best surf spots. |
| Libertadores | | | | Surfing is a popular activity during many Costa Rica |
| Soccer and Latin America are virtually synonymous. | | | | travel experiences and the country has become |
| The beautiful game is revered everywhere from the | | | | famous for its great surf and beaches that are world |
| buzzing streets of the continent's cities to the most | | | | renowned for their quality and cleanliness. Jaco is a |
| remote outposts in the distant wilderness. And of all | | | | must-see destination during your Costa Rica vacation |
| the soccer tournaments in South America, it is the | | | | and timing your trip to coincide with the most important |
| Copa de Libertadores that draws the most attention | | | | surfing event of the year is sure to add a touch of |
| and passion. The competition sees old tensions such | | | | adrenaline to your vacation memories! |
| as those between Brazil and Argentina or Peru and | | | | Aiming High: The South America Volleyball |
| Chile turned into a healthy sporting rivalry, while the | | | | Championship |
| stadiums of the continent's biggest teams are packed | | | | Volleyball is one of the few sports in Latin America |
| with flag waving fans, endless Mexican waves, flaming | | | | that is widely popular among female competitors and |
| red flares, songs and chants. | | | | spectators. The pinnacle of the game's annual |
| The tournament's 38 teams are drawn from the | | | | calendar is the South American Volleyball |
| top-ranking teams from national competitions, who play | | | | Championship, held biannually since 1951 at alternate |
| a number of preliminary rounds before entering a | | | | locations usually in Peru, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina. |
| group stage and then the finals. By the time the final | | | | The sport is taken very seriously and demands |
| stages begin, virtually everyone in South America has | | | | extreme levels of fitness, agility, coordination and |
| focused their attention on the competition. | | | | teamwork. Brazil, where the sport has become a |
| The atmosphere of a major South American soccer | | | | passion second only to football, has been the traditional |
| match is a unique experience and you don't get much | | | | leading country, with occasional challenges from |
| bigger than the finals of the Copa de Libertadores. | | | | Argentina, Peru and Venezuela. To catch a game |
| Before your South America vacation begins check the | | | | during your South America vacation, check the latest |
| tournament website for a rundown on upcoming | | | | fixtures listings on the South American Confederation |
| fixtures and don't miss the chance to see this most | | | | of Volleyball website. |
| Latin American of sporting spectacles. | | | | Hole in One: Tour De Las Americas |
| A Touch of Class: The Argentine Polo Open | | | | Ironically, it is the ancient sport of golf that is the |
| Championship | | | | youngest addition to Latin America's professional |
| For those seeking a less raucous, more elegant | | | | sports scene, having only been established as a |
| spectator sport, look no further than the great polo | | | | permanent international tour in 1999. The Tour de las |
| traditions of Argentina. Polo is an old passion for | | | | Americas (TLA) provides an opportunity for the best |
| Anglophile Argentines, and the sport attracts some of | | | | national players from Latin America and the Caribbean |
| the best players and finest horses in the world. | | | | to compete at an international level and has rapidly |
| Held every December, the Argentine Polo Open | | | | developed into a major sporting occasion, involving |
| Championship in Buenos Aires is one of the world's | | | | over 30 events in almost 20 countries and a total prize |
| most important club level polo events. Despite the | | | | money of over $3 million. The rise of golf on the |
| sport's elegant charm, the game is actually a highly | | | | continent has also contributed to a growth in dedicated |
| demanding one, requiring great skills in horsemanship as | | | | golf courses, especially in some of the more luxurious |
| well as effective teamwork in order to drive the small | | | | Costa Rica hotels. |
| wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using an | | | | These days the Tour includes such prestigious events |
| unwieldy, long-armed mallet. | | | | as the Argentine, Brazilian, Venezuelan and Peruvian |
| Argentina is the only South American country in which | | | | Opens, plus the TLA Nations Cup. The annual calendar |
| polo is played professionally and having won three | | | | includes events throughout the first half of the year |
| world championships, the country is a world leader in | | | | and the 2010 session is due to be announced shortly. |
| this refined sport. There are three big opportunities to | | | | |