Urbanismo esportivo na América do Sul: ordem, espetáculo e operações imobiliárias (1920-1955)

Abstract

Sport urbanism in South America. Order, spectacle and real estate operations This dissertation analyses the sport and leisure facilities' production in three important South American cities, during the 1920-1955 period, when the practice of physical activities and sport was on the rise. This process started during the first decades of the 20th century, when stadia, gymnasia, swimming pools, sporting clubs, velodromes, playgrounds, and other sport facilities within schools and university campuses were often erected by public and/or private agents. That was a time when local and international sporting events were also institutionalized as a part of the urban entertainment offer.Focused on key episodes of the urban history of Montevideo, Santiago and São Paulo, this dissertation tests the following hypothesis: the development of sport and leisure facilities was the result of the combined action of different agents, through the conformation of new practices, policies and institutions. Sport urbanism was guided by four main agendas: the growth of a sport spectacle industry; the incorporation of sport and physical education to heart policies and the education curriculum; the development of nationalist narratives that related sports, fitness and patriotism; and the idea of public and private agents who understood sport facilities as part of major real estate business opportunities. This work demonstrates how the development of sport facilities was the combined result of opposing social forces, mobilized by diverse agendas, interests and theoretical references. Those narratives, originated in various professional fields, such as politics, education, medicine, journalism, engineering, architecture and urbanism; were fundamental in the definition of sport facilities as social needs, drafting public policies to encourage their planning and building, and taking part in the debates about their location, financing strategies and final uses.