International Federation of Basque Pelota Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
International Federation of Basque Pelota
Official website

Sport	Basque pelota
Category	Professional Men (1st and 2nd) ; Professional Women (1st and 2nd); Amateur (Men and Women)
Jurisdiction	Spain
Abbreviation	FIPV
Founded	1929 (1929)
Regional affiliation	4 / 33 Members
Headquarters	Pamplona, Spain
President	Xavier Cazaubon
Chairman	Julián García Angulo

The International Federation of Basque Pelota (FIPV) is the main organization that manages the sport of Basque pelota around the world. It's recognized by the International Olympic Committee, which means it's a big deal in the sports world! The FIPV creates the rules for international games and organizes exciting competitions.

What is the FIPV?
History of the FIPV
- Leaders of the FIPV
Ways to Play Basque Pelota
Countries Involved in Basque Pelota
See also

What is the FIPV?

The FIPV is a sports federation that works with other important sports groups. These groups include:

International Olympic Committee (IOC): This is the group that organizes the Olympic Games.
Association of the IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF): This group includes sports federations that are recognized by the IOC.
SportAccord (GAISF): This is a big organization that brings together many international sports federations.

History of the FIPV

The International Federation of Basque pelota started on May 19, 1929. It was founded in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The French, Spanish, and Argentinian Basque Pelota Federations worked together to create it.

However, activities were limited for a while. This was because of World War II and the Spanish Civil War. Things picked up again in 1945. In 1946, the FIPV set official rules for the sport. They also made sure all participating countries had fair chances in international championships. Today, the FIPV's main office is in Pamplona, Spain.

Leaders of the FIPV

Here are the people who have led the FIPV over the years:

President	Years Active
Jean Ybarnégaray	1929–1946
Manuel Balet Crous	1946–1954
Carmelo Balda Galarraga	1954–1969
Javier Gil de Biedma	1970–1978
Jesús Fernández Iriondo	1978–1994
Enrique Gaytán de Ayala	1994–2002
Dominique Boutineau	2002–2014
Xavier Cazaubon	2014–Present

Ways to Play Basque Pelota

The FIPV recognizes several different ways to play Basque Pelota. These are the types of games played in the Basque Pelota World Championships:

Hand-pelota (esku huska in Basque): Players hit the ball with their bare hands. This game is played on a 36-meter Fronton court or a Trinquete court.

Rubber-paleta (gomazko paleta in Basque): Players use a short, wide wooden bat called a paleta. They hit a rubber ball. This game is played on a 30-meter Fronton or Trinquete.

Leather-paleta (paleta cuero in Basque): This is similar to rubber-paleta. However, players use a traditional leather ball instead of a rubber one. It's played on a 36-meter Fronton or Trinquete.

Short-bat (paleta corta in Spanish): Players use a shorter, thicker, and narrower bat. They hit a leather ball. This game is played on a 36-meter Fronton.

Xare (meaning "net" in Basque): Players use a wooden ring with a net, like a tennis racket. This game is played on a Trinquete.

Jai alai (zesta punta in Basque): Players wear a special glove that extends into a long, curved basket. They use this basket to catch and throw the ball. This exciting game is played on a 54-meter Fronton.

Frontenis: This game uses tennis rackets. It is played on a 30-meter Fronton.

Countries Involved in Basque Pelota

As of April 2022, 33 countries are members of the FIPV. They are grouped into different regions around the world.

Regions and Member Countries

Number	Region	Countries
1	Africa	2
2	Asia	4
3	Europe	6
4	Americas	21
Total	World	33

Here are the countries that are part of the FIPV, organized by region:

Africa: Guinea (Guinea), Togo (Togo)
Asia: Philippines (Philippines), India (India), China (China), Iran (Iran)
Europe: Belgium (Belgium), Spain (Spain), France (France), Italy (Italy), Poland (Poland), Portugal (Portugal)
Americas: Argentina (Argentina), Bolivia (Bolivia), Costa Rica (Costa Rica), Cuba (Cuba), Ecuador (Ecuador), El Salvador (El Salvador), United States (United States), Guatemala (Guatemala), Canada (Canada), Chile (Chile), Brazil (Brazil), Mexico (Mexico), Nicaragua (Nicaragua), Panama (Panama), Paraguay (Paraguay), Peru (Peru), Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico), Dominican Republic (Dominican Republic), Uruguay (Uruguay), Venezuela (Venezuela), Haiti (Haiti)

National Federations

In 2010, there were 27 national federations. By 2022, this number grew to 33 members.

Country	Federation
Spain	Spanish Federation of Basque Pelota
France	French Federation of Basque Pelota
Argentina	Argentinian Federation of Basque Pelota
Canada	Canadian Federation of Basque Pelota
United States	United States Federation of Basque Pelota
Mexico	Mexican Federation of Basque Pelota
Uruguay	Uruguayan Federation of Basque Pelota
Italy	Italian Federation of Basque Pelota
Philippines	Filipino Federation of Basque Pelota
Greece	Greek Federation of Basque Pelota
India	Indian Basque Palota Federation (Srinagar- 9419024669)
Belgium	Belgian Federation of Basque Pelota
Netherlands	Dutch Federation of Basque Pelota
Venezuela	Venezuelan Federation of Basque Pelota
Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican Federation of Basque Pelota
Peru	Peruvian Federation of Basque Pelota
Paraguay	Paraguayan Federation of Basque Pelota
Nicaragua	Nicaraguan Federation of Basque Pelota
Guatemala	Guatemalan Federation of Basque Pelota
El Salvador	El Salvador Federation of Basque Pelota
Ecuador	Ecuadorian Federation of Basque Pelota
Chile	Chilean Federation of Basque Pelota
Cuba	Cuban Federation of Basque Pelota
Costa Rica	Costa Rica Federation of Basque Pelota
Brazil	Brazilian Federation of Basque Pelota
Bolivia	Bolivian Federation of Basque Pelota