Covered Gymnasium (Central University of Venezuela) facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
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| Location | University City of Caracas, Venezuela |
| Criteria | Cultural: (i), (iv) |
| Inscription | 2000 (24th Session) |
The Covered Gymnasium of UCV is a large sports building in the University City of Caracas. People sometimes call it "La Cachucha", which means The Hat, because of its unique roof shape. This gym is open to the public and is managed by the Central University of Venezuela's sports department.
About the Gymnasium
This special building is part of the University City of Caracas, a famous place in Venezuela. It is located near the Francisco Fajardo Freeway and Plaza Venezuela. Close by, you can find the School of Hydrometeorological Meteorology and the UCV Meteorological Station. The University City of Caracas, including this gym, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000. This means it is a very important place that is protected for its history and design.
The gymnasium has a unique design. Interestingly, its cement roof was never fully finished as originally planned.
Sports and History
The Covered Gymnasium is a busy place where many different sports are played. You can often see games of basketball, futsal (a type of indoor soccer), volleyball, and karate here. These sports are usually played by teams from the university or during special championships.
In the past, during the first government of Rafael Caldera, the gymnasium and the nearby Botanical Garden were temporarily closed. This happened because of some issues within the university at that time. Later, the gym was updated and improved for the 1983 Pan American Games, which are big sports events for countries in the Americas.
Drivers of Venezuela Mural
On one side of the gymnasium, facing the highway, there is a huge and colorful mural. This amazing artwork is called Conductores de Venezuela or Conductores del país. It means "Drivers of Venezuela" or "Drivers of the Country". The famous cartoonist Pedro León Zapata designed this mural.
The mural shows important historical figures from Venezuela driving different vehicles. For example, you can see people like Simón Bolívar, who helped free many South American countries, and Simón Rodríguez, a famous teacher. Other figures include the writer Teresa de la Parra, the artist Armando Reverón, and the doctor José María Vargas. It's a fun way to see history come alive!
See also
In Spanish: Gimnasio Cubierto de la UCV para niños
- Sport in Venezuela
